October 2021 | Volume 15 | Issue 2
280LIVING.COM
THE 280 CORRIDOR’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE
Strike up the Band
Counting on commissioners
High school band directors share what’s in store for students’ fall shows and beyond.
See page A26
Finishing on Top
Shelby County Commissioners, from left, Lindsey Allison, Rick Shepherd, Mike Vest and Robbie Hayes pose together before a Sept. 13 commission meeting. Photo by Erin Nelson.
‘Once-in-a-lifetime player’ Audrey Rothman aiming to complete her Spain Park career on a high note.
See page C6
INSIDE Sponsors .......... A4 280 News ..........A6 Community...... A12 Business .......... A16 Chamber ......... A21 Schoolhouse.... A24 Events ............. A28
Fall Home & Garden........... B1 Real Estate......B26 Sports.................C4 Faith ..................C13 Opinion..............C13 Calendar........... C14
Get to know our local Shelby County Commission officials By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
T
he nine members of the Shelby County Commission are responsible for keeping the county running smoothly. When the county was nearing bankruptcy in 1992, it was the commission that voted on a 1-cent sales tax that was put in place for the following seven years and helped the county recover financially. Four of the nine commissioners live and represent residents on and around the U.S. 280
corridor. Here’s a look at your local representatives and a bit more about each of them.
LINDSEY ALLISON
► District 7; 29 years on the commission ► Allison is the longest serving member of the current commission. She has been elected for eight four-year terms, beginning in November 1992. Her territory in District 7 covers all of Indian Springs Village, some of Pelham, Hoover and Birmingham, Oak Mountain State Park and Interstate 65 to U.S. 280 (except for east of U.S.
280 across from the Inverness area). Q: What do you enjoy most about serving as a county commissioner? A: I enjoy serving at the local government level. Local government has more impact on the daily life of a citizen than any higher-level governing. A citizen’s daily life is greatly affected by the decisions and management of local government. Shelby County has elected many very qualified
See COMMISSIONERS | page A30
Hosts move on to The Next Round By KYLE PARMLEY
facebook.com/280living
From left: Ryan Brown, Jim Dunaway and Lance Taylor inside the studio where they host The Next Round, a new sports show produced in Birmingham. Photo by Erin Nelson.
The phrase carries several different meanings with sports enthusiasts. The next round of drinks. The next round of golf. The next round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. For Jim Dunaway, Lance Taylor, Ryan Brown and Sean Heninger (almost exclusively known as “Rockstar”), The Next Round is the culmination of a vision and the newest chapter in the
group’s journey together. They went live for the first time Aug. 16, after two months away from a live microphone. The four have been together since January 2010, hosting The Roundtable on WJOX 94.5 FM in Birmingham until mid-June. It’s been “head-spinning” to this point, but they are off and running once again, talking Southeastern Conference
See ROUND | page A31
A2 • October 2021
280 Living
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October 2021 • A3
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Look Forward.
3/5/20 10:25 AM
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280 Living
About Us Editor’s Note By Leah Ingram Eagle I love the quote, “I’m so glad we live in a world with Octobers,” from the novel “Anne of Green Gables.” Every time the 10th month of the year rolls around, I am just plain giddy about it. It’s the falling leaves, cooler temperatures, the shorter days and all the décor that I love most. While I don’t drink pumpkin spice lattes (I prefer a salted caramel hot chocolate), our family enjoys other traditions we love, like going to Old Baker Farm and picking pumpkins, attending fall festivals, watching college football, making smores and, of course, taking our kids trick-ortreating on Halloween. This year’s holiday will be the first one in our
new neighborhood, and I know it will be loads of fun. There’s nothing scary about this month’s issue, though. Our cover story focuses on the four county commissioners who live in and serve the communities along the
U.S. 280 corridor. They are responsible for many decisions in Shelby County, and I thought it would be nice to feature them so you could learn a little more about them. Make sure to read about the new businesses in the area and, of course, all of our fall sports coverage. Also, check out the previews for four fun fall events taking place this month. Hope you enjoy your October as much as I do! Happy reading!
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
The Oak Mountain student section celebrates the Eagles’ 24-14 win over Vestavia Hills at Buddy Anderson Field on Sept. 10 at Vestavia Hills High School. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Publisher: Dan Starnes Managing Editor: Nick Patterson Community Editors: Leah Ingram Eagle Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Neal Embry Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Community Reporter: Eric Taunton Design Editor: Melanie Viering Photo Editor: Erin Nelson Page Designers: Kristin Williams Ted Perry Contributing Writers: Kari Kampakis Sean Dietrich Client Success Specialist: Anna Bain Content Marketing Manager: Ingrid Schnader Graphic Designer: Emily VanderMey Director of Sales: Patrick McDonald Advertising: Michelle Salem Haynes Don Harris Jarrett Tyus Warren Caldwell Stacey Hatcher Hazen Hoagland Cal Larsen Administrator: Anna Jackson
For advertising contact: pmcdonald@starnesmedia.com Contact Information: 280 Living P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnesmedia.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: leagle@starnesmedia.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
Published by: Starnes Publishing LLC Legals: 280 Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of
editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. 280 Living is designed to inform the 280 community of area school, family and community events. Information in 280 Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of 280 Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
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Please Support Our Community Partners Ace Hardware Dunnavant Square (B10) Alabama Mold & Mildew Solutions (B8) Altadena Eye Care (A24) Alys Stephens Center, ArtPlay, Abroms-Engel Institute AEIVA (A5) Ascension/St. Vincent’s Health Systems (C7) Assisted Living Locators (A25) Bedzzz Express (C1, C16) Bellini’s Ristorante (C9) Benton Nissan of Hoover (A23) BHMDEX (B14) Brewer Roofing & Construction (B7) Bromberg’s & Company Inc. (C12) Brookwood Baptist Health (A10) Brookwood Diagnostic Center (A20) Budget Blinds (B17) Cabinetry Refinishing & Restoration (A1) Cahaba Glass (A28) Cardinal Roofing (A11) Carpet Warehouse Galleria (B9) Children’s of Alabama (A21) Chiropractic Today (C2) Classic Home Mortgage Inc. (B12) Classic Iron Works (B25) Clean Surface (A9) Clearview Strategy Partners (B27) Compact2020 (A23) Cool Breeze Inc. (B18) Door Restore (B22) DSLD Land Management – Aquascapes (B3) ENT Associates of Alabama (A19) Etc. (A12) Fancy Fur- Paws and Claws (C10) French Drains Pro (A18) Gardner Landscaping (B1) Grandview Medical Center (A3) Guin Service (B6) Hawkins Psychiatry (A6) Hearing Solutions (A21) Holcombe Doors and Windows (B20) Insurance Place Birmingham (B14) Kete Cannon, ARC Realty (A17) La Paz Mt Laurel (A19) Luckie’s Pinestraw (A1) Max Transit (C9) Medicare Advisors of Alabama (A18) Melissa Wise, RealtySouth (B22)
MiBella Wellness Center (A2) Moss Rock Festival (C15) Mr. Handyman of Birmingham (B24) Nature One Landscape Design (B25) Oak Highland Design/ Decorating Den (B15) One Man and a Toolbox (B20) Pak Mail (C14) Pam Grant, RE/MAX Southern Homes 280 - Southoak Subdivision (B11) Patti Henderson, Flat Fee Real Estate (A28) Piggly Wiggly (C1) Poarch Band of Creek Indians (C2) Red Mountain Associates Thrivent Financial (A22) Renew Dermatology (A7) Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens (A22) ROME Study, UAB Division of Preventative Medicine (A29) Royal Automotive (B28) Senior Placement Services (A20) Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (A29) Sikes Children’s Shoes (C12) SlimFit Weight Loss Clinic (A16) Southeastern Jewelers and Engravers (C10) Southern Air - Skelton's (B21) Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (B23) Space Cadets (B16) Standard Air, Plumbing & Insulation (B2) Terry Crutchfield, RE/MAX Advantage South (B13) The Bluffs at Greystone (B19) The Dande Lion (A16) TherapySouth Greystone (A32) Total Skin and Beauty Dermatology (A14) TrustCare Urgent Care (C3) United Way of Central Alabama (A17) Urban Home Market (B5) Valley Bank (A15) Village Dermatology (A13) Vulcan Termite & Pest Control (A24) Wild Birds Unlimited of Birmingham (B23) Window Decor & Design (B21) Window World of Central Alabama (C3)
Find Us Pick up the latest issue of 280 Living at the following locations: ► Alabama Outdoors ► Cahaba Ridge ► Chiropractic Today ► Chelsea High School ► Chelsea Library ► Cowboy’s ► Danberry ► Edgar’s Bakery ► Edward’s Chevrolet ► Ground Up Coffee & Smoothies/ Snider’s Pharmacy ► Lloyd’s Restaurant ► Mt Laurel Library
► North Shelby Library ► Oak Mountain High School ► Spain Park High School ► St. Vincent’s 119 ► Somerby at St. Vincent’s ► Winn-Dixie Chelsea ► Winn-Dixie Inverness Want to join this list or get 280 Living mailed to your home? Contact Anna Jackson at ajackson@ starnesmedia.com.
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280 News
Stallings talks Chelsea athletics at CBA luncheon By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Chelsea High School Athletic Director Michael Stallings spoke at the Sept. 8 Chelsea Business Alliance meeting, where he shared information about the school’s athletic programs department and gave insight into the sports programs. “We have a very successful athletic department comprised of a lot of different sport programs,” Stallings said. “Since I’ve been there, I’ve been able to see the growth and development of those programs.” Although Stallings wasn’t born and raised in Chelsea, he said he feels like that’s where his roots are since he’s lived in the city for 17 years. He was hired at the middle school, where he worked until 2006 before heading to Spain Park High School. “From there, the door opened up for me to come and be baseball coach at Chelsea,” he said. When Stallings took over as athletic director in 2009, Chelsea had about 900 students at the high school. There are now around 1,400. He has seen tremendous growth since his time working at the middle school when the program was 4A, then transitioned to 5A and now 6A. “If things continue on the path they are on, we will now probably be 7A when they reclassify. Those are in many ways positive signs of growth and development in our community.” Stallings said from an athletic standpoint, it poses a challenge dealing with the sheer numbers and ultimately having the space to fulfill the needs of the over 500 student athletes. He said that the fact they are able to “offer avenues for kids in that involvement speaks volumes about the community.” He thanked Chelsea businesses for their support of the athletic department and said it
Chelsea High students and cheerleaders take the field during an Aug. 27 game between Chelsea and Helena at the Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller.
wouldn’t be able to do what it does without them. Chelsea athletes are also taking their talents to the next level. In 2020, more than 11 student athletes signed to play collegiate athletics (four baseball players, two soccer players, two football players and more). “A wide range of different athletic programs are sending kids to play at the next level, which bolsters and speaks volumes about the success our programs are experiencing in all sports,” Stallings said. In his ninth year as athletic director, Stallings said he feels confident with the hires made this year and fortunate to find high quality men and women who will be leading the student athletes and be a good example for them.
“When all of those things come together, plus they’ve got a wealth of knowledge they can offer in whatever sport they may be helping with makes it even that much more valuable,” Stallings said. He gave a recap of athletic programs for 2020, which he described as a great year in athletics. ► The girls basketball team was area champions and advanced to the final four. ► The baseball team won the area championship and advanced to the semifinals. ► The softball team won the area championship. ► The girls soccer team advanced to the elite eight. Stallings said the cross-country and track
program has experienced more growth than any other program during his tenure. He mentioned two top athletes, Miles Brush, who won the 5K cross-country state championship last year, and Katie McFell, won two individual championships last year. “When I first came to Chelsea, the cross-country program probably had about 20 kids involved in it,” Stallings said. “The way the program has developed over the last five to seven years, it has grown tremendously in numbers and demanded a much more knowledgeable coach, and we’ve been very fortunate to hire a couple: Ericka Singletary and Trey Lee.” Following Stallings, head football coach Dustin Goodwin spoke to the audience. Now entering his fourth year in his position, Goodwin grew up as a coach’s kid and said he knew at an early age this is what he wanted to do. “I was able to see the impact a coach could make on a kid, and I wanted to be a part of that,” he said. He has built his coaching staff to include his father, Doug Goodwin (a Hall of Fame football coach in the state of Alabama); Heath Butler, who came over from the middle school to coaching defensive lines; Butch Husband as defensive coordinator; along with Steward Carlisle, Cole Corkren and Chris Munoz. “To have five guys on staff who have head coaching experience when running a program is a great asset to have,” Goodwin said. “They are guys you can lean on and count on to get things done when they need to.” Goodwin said the players continue to progress and grow in their roles. “Morale is up, and hopefully we’ll keep building as the year goes along and keep performing at a high level.”
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October 2021 • A7
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A8 • October 2021
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Commission adopts 2022 operating budget By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE During its Sept. 13 meeting, the Shelby County Commission approved the FY22 budget for the county for the fiscal year that runs Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022. County Manager Chad Scroggins said he and his team have probably worked more hours than they ever have on the analysis of the budget. “Since the last commission meeting, we’ve spent hours upon hours of analysis to make sure we are trying to meet as many demands on the budget to serve the residents of this county,” Scroggins said. “We feel confident about this and feel it will see a lot of impact for our residents.” Total proposed revenues are $150,524,786 while total proposed expenditures are $150,435,358. Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Naugher mentioned one change made in early September was for a 0.9% health insurance increase that created an additional $89,428 added to the budget. Commissioner Lindsey Allison complimented the staff and said she speaks on behalf of the commission that they appreciate their time spent working on the budget and the attention to detail. “The other thing we’ve done is take care of the employees in a very volatile time. That says something,” she said. The budget includes nine new full-time positions for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office: four for the sheriff’s office, four contract deputies for the city of Chelsea and one trail construction supervisor in facilities/general services. Sheriff John Samaniego said they currently have candidates to choose from and added that it will probably be after the first of the new year before they are all hired. County Attorney Butch Ellis addressed the commission, saying it is a privilege to represent Shelby County and this commission. “This is the most well run, efficient organization with all the office staff working so well together,” Ellis said. “It’s a privilege and honor to represent you.” During the county manager’s report, Scroggins said he was appreciative about everyone working together to get the budget ready. “All we’re doing is taking the assets of our residents and serving them,” he said. “We are a conduit to what they have given us.” Scroggins also discussed some capital projects, including the property recently closed on
Shelby County Manager Chad Scroggins and CFO Cheryl Naugher discuss the fiscal 2022 budget resolution during the Sept. 13 Shelby County Commission meeting. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Shelby County 41. Work is being done on property lines, and the trails will be named Dunnavant Valley Park on the Shelby County 41 side and most likely Double Oak Mountain Park on the Shelby County 43 side. “I think we’ll be able to accomplish some activities there that we don’t have at other parks, like backcountry horse trails.” Scroggins said. “It will take several months to get that developed, but so far we’ve had rave reviews.” He said the County Services Building on U.S. 280 is nearing completion and that the hold-up has been the parking lot. New subdivision regulations will be announced in the coming months. Scroggins said the county is always learning from its mistakes and the things it does right and those are communicated to the highway department for feedback. “We are making additional changes to make
sure we can preserve the quality of life here in Shelby County, and you’ll start to see them over the coming months,” he said. The public survey for the Shelby County Comprehensive Plan is now available at planshelbyal.com. Scroggins stressed the importance of residents giving their feedback as the plan is an investment for years to come. Commissioner Jon Parker was also recognized during the meeting with an award by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama for his 16 years of service on the commission. During the meeting, the commission also: ► Approved a bid for traffic signal installation at Shelby County 52 and Shelby County 93 to Stone and Sons Electrical in the amount of $217,650.09. The package also includes a radar package to monitor speed. ► Approved an agreement for maintenance of passing warning devices for $2,036.99 for
the railroad crossing in Chelsea on Shelby County 433. Federal funds will pay 90%, and the county is paying 10%. ► Approved a 3% consumer price increase for Republic Services garbage collection. ► Approved a restaurant retail liquor license for First Watch restaurant. ► Approved the FY22 Shelby County holiday and payroll calendar. ► Awarded a bid to Bob Barker Inc. for correctional apparel. ► Awarded a bid to Building Specialists for doors and door hardware. ► Awarded a bid to Foley Products for precast concrete box. ► Approved the appointment of Danielle Beane to the Harrison Regional Library Board. ► Approved the appointment of Angilica Melendez to the Department of Human Resources Board.
Commission honors Ellis for recent bill passage By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Shelby County Commission honored former Commissioner and Alabama Rep. Corley Ellis during its Aug. 23 meeting. Ellis was presented with a plaque for his dedication and service to county government in Alabama and also his sponsorship and passage of Act 2021-173, which allows boards of equalization to achieve their purpose more efficiently by streamlining the nomination and appointment process. The bill allows the Alabama Department of Revenue to appoint board members to vacant seats from nomination lists provided by the county commission, county board of education and/or municipal city council. If that list is exhausted, it would allow ADOR to select and appoint board members to vacant seats. It also allows the commission chairperson to appoint a temporary board member to serve no more than 45 days to allow the board to conduct scheduled meetings and increases the per diem rate for board members from $35 to $100. Shelby County Manager Chad Scroggins said the bill wouldn’t have gotten passed without the work done by Ellis and Alabama Rep. Arnold Mooney. Also discussed was the creation of a new Comprehensive Plan for Shelby County. The last one was completed in 2004. The public will be asked for its input on an
online survey to begin the process, which will take 12-18 months to complete. “This will provide direction to my office and to the county engineer’s office for what the public would like to see so we can utilize our resources for that,” Scroggins said. “That’s really all we do is take the resources of the residents and serve the people with them.” The commission also approved: ► An award bid to T&K Construction for the construction of Landfill Cell No. 5 in the amount of $6,539,117. This company has built the last several cells at the landfill. ► Amendments to subdivision regulations, which will improve customer service by allowing resubdivision of lots within a minor subdivision to be reviewed administratively and not require a hearing by the Planning Commission. ► An amended agreement between Shelby County and Shelby Ridge Utility Systems for installation of sanitary sewer facilities on specific county highway rights-of-way. ► To accept property for dedication as rightof-way dedication in Calera to QuickTrip Corporation where a convenience store/gas station will be built ► A petition to vacate portions of public streets and alleys at Shelby County 302 and Shelby County 303. ► An amended flood damage prevention ordinance.
Shelby County Commissioner Kevin Morris, left, presents a plaque to Alabama Rep. Corley Ellis, right, at the Aug. 23 meeting. Ellis’ son, Jameson, is pictured holding the plaque. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
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October 2021 • A9
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A10 • October 2021
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Leadership Hoover launches 5th class By JON ANDERSON The fifth class of the Leadership Hoover organization is getting ready to start in October as class members begin to explore the various facets of life in Hoover. The new class includes 34 people from a variety of fields and industries, including education, government, law, health care, technology, financial services, engineering, real estate, media and utilities. The goal of Leadership Hoover is to gather a group of leaders who are interested in expanding their leadership skills, deepening their sense of civic responsibility, becoming more involved in helping the community and learning about Hoover’s issues and needs. Following a welcome breakfast in August and team-building retreat in September, the new class now will begin to meet once a month to learn more deeply about the city. In October, the class will focus on public safety, hearing from leaders in Hoover’s first responders and communications departments and tour the Hoover fire station, the Hoover Jail, the Police Department’s new Frank and Pam Barefield Training Center and the National Computer Forensics Institute. The November focus will be on education, and in December, the group will examine economic development, including a presentation from Hoover’s economic developer, Greg Knighton. The class will have a government day in
Members of the fifth class of Leadership Hoover pose for a photo during a breakfast at the Hoover Randle Home and Gardens on Aug. 24. The class includes 34 people from a variety of fields and industries, including education, government, law, health care, technology, financial services, engineering, real estate, media and utilities. Photo by Jon Anderson.
January where it will hear from city, county and state government officials, including legislators and city department heads. Then in February, the focus will turn to Hoover’s diversity with a “one community day.” Small businesses and entrepreneurs will be the focus in March and April will feature various things that add to Hoover’s quality of life, such as park facilities and the Hoover Public Library. The nine-month effort concludes in May with a graduation ceremony and presentation of projects the various groups have undertaken. By December, each group must identify and have approved a project they want to tackle to help improve life in the city, said Lori Leonard, executive director for Leadership Hoover. Some projects from the Leadership Hoover’s fourth class dealt with human trafficking, skills gaps among young people, food insecurity, retail challenges and business support.
The 34 members of the fifth class of Leadership Hoover are: ► Joseph Booker, owner, Joseph Insurance Advisors ► Cody Burns, senior account executive, WBRC ► Stephen Burns, fuel services principal, Southern Co. ► Katrina Cade, owner, PrideStaff ► Pooja Chawla, attorney ► Anita Clemon, assistant vice president for institutional equity, University of Alabama at Birmingham ► Erin Colbaugh, events manager, city of Hoover ► Terri Coleman, counselor, Trace Crossings Elementary School ► Colin Conner, urban forester, city of Hoover ► Randall Cottrell, CEO, Bluejireh ► David Custred, vice president for operations, McLeod Software
► April DeLuca, partner, Magic City Law ► Joe Dunsmore, vice president and deputy chief information officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama ► Mitzi Eaker, president/owner, Mitzi Jane Media ► Derrick Ellis, independent contractor, Dream Trips ► Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox, physician ► Robin Gerstenberg, Realtor, Keller Williams Realty ► Heather Harvill, associate counsel, Preferred Growth Properties ► Porsha Hicks, engineering business partner manager and senior vice president, BBVA (PNC) ► Jeffrey Hodges, senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and talent programs manager, Regions Bank ► Laura Jackman, member, Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt ► Kimberly Jackson, government and community relations manager, Alabama Power Co. ► Eric King, agent/owner, State Farm Eric O. King Agency ► Shaquana Lamar, principal engineer, Southern Company Services ► Jason Lybrand, partner, Sovereign CPA Group ► Kimberly Ray, building services manager, SouthWest Water Co. ► Kendall Roberson, corporate counsel, Avanti Polar Lipids ► Marcella Roberts, principal/owner/developer, M. Roberts & Associates ► Russell Shamburger, senior vice president, Cadence Bank ► Takeria Stephens, senior vice president and fair lending and redlining compliance manager, Regions Bank ► Dr. Chijoke Ulasi, dental director, Whatley Health Services ► Mary Veal, human resources director, Hoover City Schools ► Christy Williams, vice president of sales, ITAC ► Nina Williams, senior project manager, Jacobs Engineering To learn more about Leadership Hoover, go to leadershiphooveral.org.
280Living.com
October 2021 • A11
We've Roofed THOUSANDS of Homes in Birmingham.
LY LOCAL D OWNE ! NY COMPA Vehicles travel along U.S. 280 past the “Welcome to Chelsea” sign. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Chelsea’s population continues to soar By NEAL EMBRY The city of Chelsea continues to grow at a rapid pace, according to recently released U.S. Census data. Population numbers increased from 10,183 in 2010 to 14,982 in 2020, a 47% increase, according to the data. Here’s how that compares to other cities in the area: ► Mountain Brook: 22,461 ► Trussville: 26,123
► Homewood: 26,414 ► Vestavia Hills: 39,102 ► Hoover: 92,606 ► Birmingham: 200,733 In terms of demographics, the city is 52% female, and just under half of the city is between the ages of 18-65. The city is 90% white and 6% Black. The median value of owner-occupied housing is $232,700, with a 94% ownership rate. The median household income is $97,727, with a poverty rate of 3.5%.
Shelby County set to begin study for updated comprehensive plan By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Shelby County Department of Development Services, along with input from Shelby County residents, will soon begin the process to create Shelby County’s next Comprehensive Plan. With assistance from the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, the study will take 12-18 months to complete. The purpose of a Comprehensive Plan is to help with guiding future growth and development over the next 20 years and A map shows the 808 square miles of Shelby County. addresses issues including resPhoto courtesy of the Shelby County Commission. idential development, parks and recreation, land use, transportation, natural resources, economic development, quality of life and primary link for public involvement and inforpublic facilities. The last Comprehensive Plan was done in mation on the plan. In 2004, this advanced tech2004, and a lot has changed in Shelby County nology was not yet available, so this is the first time it will be done online. since then. The plan will encompass all of Shelby Public participation is an essential part of development of the plan. An online survey County, which includes 808 square miles with has been created to gather important informa- 17 municipalities and a population of around tion from residents and businesses in Shelby 223,000. “We want to hear from our residents and County. The website, planshelbyal.com, is active and has the updated plan information to businesses,” Shelby County Manager Chad inform the public on scheduled events, dead- Scroggins said. “The planning process allows lines and potential activities to be involved in everyone an opportunity to participate. We encourage you to get involved; this is your the process. The website, planshelbyal.com, will be the opportunity to guide the future of the county.”
Cardinal Roofing owner, Adam Winger, with his wife, Casey, and their three children.
REPAIR OR REPLACE?
Like any other building product, shingles have a useful life. Once that life expires, roof leaks become inevitable. Keep the following tips in mind to avoid the damaging (and expensive) results caused by a roof that is no longer able to properly shed water. KNOW THE AGE. The extreme heat and humidity of the Southeast coupled with the frequency of our violent storms creates a tough environment for shingles. Like a set of balding tires, if you wait until shingles are no longer functional, it is likely too late. We recommend considering replacement every 12-15 years. A few signs of aged shingles are: • Curling in the middle or around the edges of the shingles. • Black algae streaks running down a slope. • Excess rock granules found in gutter downspouts. • Sunlight no longer reflects off the shingles. STORM DAMAGE. Hail, strong winds and flying limbs and debris can reduce the lifespan of your shingles. Although most damage is not visible from the ground, after a storm, look for these signs to know if you need to consider a replacement: • Torn shingles in your yard. They can look almost like thick, black paper. • Missing or sliding shingles. • Branches or any other debris on the roof. PERSISTENT LEAKING. Certain roofing components predictably fail over time, and can sometimes indicate larger, more significant problems. Keep an eye on the following as your roof nears the 7 to 10-year mark. • Leaking near the pipes and vents coming through the roof. • Water stains on walls and ceilings near or around chimneys. • Leaking near a roof valley where two slopes come together. Water continuously flows down both sides of the valley exerting tremendous weight and pressure on the seam. If you think your roof may be nearing the end of its lifespan, give us a call. We give you free assessments, and we offer several levels of tune-ups and maintenance arrangements.
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A12 • October 2021
280 Living
Community Have a community announcement? Email Leah Ingram Eagle at leagle@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
Physical therapists aim to make difference in Woodlawn By ERIC TAUNTON Physical therapists in Hoover and Vestavia Hills are making themselves part of the solution to longtime health issues experienced by residents of Birmingham’s Woodlawn community. TherapySouth, a physical therapy provider with offices throughout the metro Birmingham area and headquartered on U.S. 280, started in September to provide not-for-profit services to people who need them, said Steve Foster, president and CEO of TherapySouth. “We anticipate that a large number of our patients will be uninsured based on our experiences in the area,” Foster said. “Based on their ability to pay, many of them will probably pay nothing.” The Woodlawn facility will be co-managed by Dr. Alan Spooner, a partner at TherapySouth and the clinical director of TherapySouth Vestavia, and Dr. Wes James, a physical therapist at TherapySouth’s office on South Shades Crest Road. Spooner and James are two of TherapySouth’s most experienced physical therapists who will staff the facility initially and will add staff when the location receives more patients. TherapySouth has provided pro bono services on Thursday afternoons for two years through Christ Health Center, a medical clinic for uninsured patients. However, Foster felt the company could be doing more to help the Woodlawn community. “We realized that there is more of a need in this community than what we can provide on Thursday afternoons,” Foster said. “We began to look at what the possibilities might be and started to look for space for a potential clinic.” TherapySouth has several facilities located throughout Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi
Above, from left: Dr. Wes James, Dr. Alan Spooner and TherapySouth CEO and President Steve Foster at the TherapySouth Vestavia Hills clinic. Right: Christ Health Center in the Woodlawn community of Birmingham. Photos by Erin Nelson.
to provide convenience for its patients. The core goal of TherapySouth is to provide “hands-on care, close to a patient’s home or work.” The new clinic will be based in a building leased by the Woodlawn Foundation, an organization committed to revitalizing Woodlawn and ending poverty there that offers the community education, mixed-income housing and other services. The same building also houses Woodlawn Kitchen and Naughty but Nice Kettle Corn Co. Dr. Rex Record, CEO of Christ Health Clinic,
believes the new clinic is a huge win for the Woodlawn community. “There aren’t any physical therapy providers that are close to us, and proximity matters,” Record said. Christ Health Center provides several medical services, including medical care, dental care, pharmacy services and counseling services, but has no physical therapy services. “We have a lot of patients who struggle, especially with pain and function,” Record said. “Most of the medicines for these conditions
have particularly weak evidence, but physical therapy works, especially when you have a physical therapist who cares enough to know you and touch you and get involved with your healing the way that therapists at TherapySouth do.” The fact that services will be provided in an area where people have limited financial resources will not determine the level of care they will receive, Foster said. “The quality of the care will be the same care that we give at all of our clinics,” Foster said. “We hope to grow it and for it to become a clinic that requires at least two to three fulltime therapists there to meet the needs of that community.” The new facility reflects the company’s core values of faith, service and giving, said Katie Ratliff, communications director for TherapySouth. Ratliff is fairly new to the company, being hired in August 2020, but noticed when applying for the position how important the core values are to Foster and his company. “Before I knew anything about the company, the core values were probably the most prominent thing throughout the process,” Ratliff said. “I think that it’s something that we strive for at all of our clinics and really want our patients to know about and embody.”
280Living.com
October 2021 • A13
Shelby County takes over 911 services for Mountain Brook By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Mountain Brook Emergency Communications District recently signed a three-year contract with the Shelby County Emergency Communications District to take over as the provider of E-911 services for the city. Mountain Brook’s 911 services are currently provided by dispatchers employed in-house and supervised by police personnel. The Shelby County Emergency Communications District approved the contract at its July 29 board meeting to take over public safety dispatch services for Mountain Brook. Following the effective date of the contract, there will be a five-month implementation period, lasting until about Jan. 10, 2022. “We plan to cut them over and start answering their 911 calls on Jan. 10, after the implementation period,” said Alan Campbell, executive director of Shelby 911. “We are moving into the new 280 County Services Building in November and have to have time to move in and train new employees.” In addition to Mountain Brook, Shelby 911 also provides these services for other emergency communications for the city of Vestavia Hills and also almost all of Shelby County, excluding Pelham. Per the contract, Mountain Brook will pay a
Mountain Brook Police Department vehicles sit outside the Mountain Brook Police Department in Crestline Village. The Mountain Brook Emergency Communications District recently signed a three-year contract with the Shelby County Emergency Communications District to take over as the provider of E-911 services for the city. Photo by Erin Nelson.
one-time fee up front of $132,000 for hardware and other equipment costs, and then the city will then pay a monthly charge of $43,500. “We’ve been doing Vestavia’s services for seven years now,” Campbell said. “Mountain Brook had a consultant who approached us about the possibility of doing the services for the city, and after checking other options,
it was concluded that Shelby County was the best solution.” Campbell said they are excited to bring on the city of Mountain Brook and are confident they will provide excellent services for their citizens. “With our consolidated dispatch services, we can be more efficient and provide a better service,” he said. “[After the move], we will be
hiring seven employees to handle the workload, along with a training manager to help everyone who is in the dispatch center.” Two other positions will be added, including a dispatcher for MBPD and another 911 operator. – Village Living Community Editor Jesse Chambers contributed to this story.
YOUR BEAUTIFUL SKIN IS OUR SUCCESS Our team of Skincare Experts at Village Dermatology’s Skin for Life Boutique are here to help you find the best medical-grade skincare based on your budget, lifestyle and goals. Come by the store any time for a FREE skincare consultation! 2900 Cahaba Road Monday through Friday | 8 am–5 pm
A14 • October 2021
280 Living
Alabama Grocers award $37,500 in scholarships for 2021-22 academic year The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation recently awarded $37,500 in scholarships to employees or children of employees from Alabama Grocers Association member companies for the 2021-22 academic year. These included 22 AGEF-funded scholarships, 11 Piggyback Scholarships and four Endowed Scholarships for a total of 37 scholarships awarded. Shelby County scholarship recipients included Olivia Davis and Rachel Moore. “To date, the Alabama Grocers Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in scholarships,” said Ellie Smotherman Taylor, president of the 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 parttime employment by firms that are members of the Alabama Grocers Association. The scholarship program demonstrates the association’s interest in the growth and development of the leaders of tomorrow by providing financial assistance to deserving students. This year, the foundation received more than 100 applications.
Briarwood Christian School student Aubrey Turner attends Space Academy Aubrey Turner of Highland Lakes and student at Briarwood Christian School recently attended Space Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home of Space Camp, Space Camp Robotics, Aviation Challenge and U.S. Cyber Camp. The Rocket Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Official Turner Visitor Center. The weeklong educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students and with hands-on activities and missions based
on teamwork, leadership and problem solving. This program is specifically designed for trainees who have a passion for space exploration. Turner spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated space mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Moon or Mars. The crew participated in experiments and successfully completed an extra-vehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalk. Aubrey and crew returned to earth in time to graduate with honors. – Submitted by Margie Phillips.
“We are thankful to our members and other supporters of the Alabama Grocers Association,” said Bob Crawford, UnitedJohnson Brothers, Chairman, Board of Trustees, AGEF. “Over the years, their donations have made these scholarships possible, impacting the lives of hundreds of young people.” 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 the generosity of supporters, members and friends of the Alabama Grocers Association. – Submitted by Abigail Jackson.
“
Our association is thrilled to be supporting higher education efforts of Alabama’s youth and can think of no better investment.
”
ELLIE SMOTHERMAN TAYLOR
Williams finishes aviation challenge John Williams of Birmingham recently attended Aviation Challenge Mach II at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home of Space Camp, Space Camp Robotics™, Aviation Challenge and U.S. Cyber Camp. The Rocket Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Official Visitor Center. The weeklong educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students and with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and problem-solving. This program is designed for students who have an interest in military aviation
and the mechanics of flight. Students learn principles of aviation and put their knowledge to the test in a variety of flight simulators. Taking the role of fighter pilots, John and team ran control systems and scenario-based missions as well as trained in water and land survival. At the end of the week, John and crew returned in time to graduate with honors. Aviation Challenge opened in 1990 in Huntsville and uses fighter pilot training techniques to engage trainees in realworld applications of STEM subjects. Students sleep in quarters designed to resemble military bays. – Submitted by Margie Phillips.
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280Living.com
October 2021 • A15
Five Ways to Optimize Your Savings in Today’s Changing Environment Over the past year, many people have seen shifts in their lifestyles, which has had an impact on their finances. Some business owners saw their workforces shift to a work-from-home model, leaving empty space that they were able to sublease. And employees who used to work in offices were suddenly home full-time, cutting their commuting costs. Today, many people are adopting new hybrid versions of workhome life, splitting their work time between their homes and their offices. With all these changes, it can be easy to lose focus on your long-term financial goals. But now is a good time to reexamine and optimize your finances to be sure you’re saving for both now and later. Here are five key ways to be sure your money keeps working for you, even as your life may continue to change.
Update Your Budget Since your spending habits may have changed, revisit your budget to identify where expenses might have shifted. Personally, my husband has been working from home, saving an hour of commuting a day. That amounts to a savings of $100 per month, just on fuel! Also, businesses should review their financial accounts to see where they can trim excess spending, and renegotiate contracts and subscriptions.
Save Smarter Not all savings accounts are created equal. Before you make a decision on how to save, evaluate how much money you have to open the account, if you’ll be able to maintain the minimum balance and what the interest rate is. At Valley Bank we have a Growth Savings Account that earns more interest than a money market account, and you can open one for as little as $500.
Invest In Your Retirement Many people have a “set it and forget it” approach to retirement, but don’t be complacent. Now is a good time to look at your 401K and retirement funds to see if you can contribute higher amounts. You’ll be surprised by how much small increases can add up over time. And to review your overall plans, connect with a financial planner consider whether you should also consider other long-term investment strategies.
Have An Emergency Savings Fund The truth is, there are still a lot of uncertainties in the near future. Take some of the money you’re saving on lower expenses and put that in a savings account for emergencies. You don’t know when you’re going to need it. Whether your air conditioning goes out, or there’s a lull in business due to conditions beyond your control, this reserve will come in handy.
Take Advantage Of Cash Rewards One of the most frequent questions I hear is, “How can I get my money to work better for me?” While saving or investing money is one part of the equation, taking advantage of cash rewards is another great one. If you’re disciplined with a credit card and can pay off the balance each month, putting monthly expenses on a credit card with cash rewards literally means you earn cash to spend later in the year – perfect for holiday shopping or end-of-the-year expenses. Your banker can help provide customized counsel for your personal or business finance goals. To start a banking relationship with Valley Bank, call 205-378-5700.
Brandy Hamilton is retail market manager at Valley Bank in Alabaster and has been in retail banking for 20 years. ©2021 Valley National Bank. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. Equal Housing Lender. All Rights Reserved.
A16 • October 2021
280 Living
Business Happenings NOW OPEN Hoover residents George and Eileen McCluney have opened their third Beef O’Brady’s franchise at 5279 U.S. 280 in the Brook Highland Plaza shopping center. Their other Beef O’Brady’s restaurants are in Helena and in The Grove shopping center in Hoover. 205-637-6661, beefobradys.com Helena-based A&B Professional Services is now open and offers comprehensive services, including carpet cleaning, floor cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery cleaning and janitorial services. 205-218-8812, aandbproservices.com
owview Drive in the former location of Joe’s Crab Shack. 866-657-6642, sonicdrivein.com
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS Rickey J’s Bakery recently relocated to 4647 U.S. 280 after being in Clay for nearly two decades. The bakery offers a variety of dessert cakes and birthday cakes, along with pastry and cupcake options. 205-874-9007, rickeyjscakes.com
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS America’s First Federal Credit Union, #2 Inverness Center Parkway, with partners ABC 33/40, The CW 21 and My 68 WABM, raised $25,000 and collected 19,500 food items (enough to provide about 116,250 meals) during its Feeding Families Across Alabama Food Drive in July. All efforts benefited the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. 205-995-0001, amfirst.org
Kamali Creole Kitchen is now open at 611 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 205, in The Marketplace at Lee Branch shopping center. Owned by Ryan Emery and his wife Qiana, Kamali Creole Kitchen started in 2019 out of a food truck and uses original family recipes to bring the taste of New Orleans to Birmingham. 205-778-6557, kamalicreole.net Classy Contour Day Spa is now open at 5530 U.S. 280, Suite 104, and offers a variety of noninvasive body contouring services, cellulite reduction, skin tightening and body detox. 205-386-0156, classycontourdayspa.godaddysites. com
COMING SOON Sonic Drive-In plans to open a restaurant at 20 Mead-
Avadian Credit Union, which has branches and/or offices at 420 Old U.S. 280, 15660 U.S. 280 and 3439 Colonnade Parkway, has been named as one of the "Best Companies to Work for in Alabama" by Business Alabama and the Best Companies Group. This is Avadian’s third consecutive year to receive this designation. 205-967-2993, avadiancu.com
PERSONNEL MOVES Greystone Golf and Country Club, 4100 Greystone Drive, has hired Cameron Hayes as its new food and beverage director. He oversees all “front of the house” service (bars, beverage carts, restaurants, catering, plaza, and the pool grill). He will be responsible for hiring, training, setting
higher standards and ensuring enjoyable and consistent experiences at the club. Cameron comes from Pursell Farms, where he was in the same capacity. His experience also includes Shadow Wood Country Club in Florida as assistant food and beverage director and Sea Island at the Lodge for several years on the food and beverage management team. He is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management. 205-980-5200, greystonecc.com
ANNIVERSARIES Outdoor co-op REI is celebrating the second anniversary of its 20,000-square-foot store at 335 Summit Blvd. in The Summit. The retail store carries gear, apparel and footwear for a wide range of outdoor and fitness activities, as well as virtual classes. 205-967-1419, rei.com/stores/birmingham Urgent Care for Children, 500 Cahaba Park Circle, Unit 100, is celebrating its third anniversary. It offers extended and weekend hours for appointments and is open weekdays 2-10 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to treat patients from ages birth to 21. 205-848-2273, childrensurgent.com Greenvale Pediatrics, 101 Eagle Ridge Drive, recently celebrated its 47th anniversary. The practice was purchased by Children’s of Alabama in July 1996, and the Brook Highland office opened in 1999. Today, it operates three offices that serve patients from newborn to college age. 205-995-1004, childrensal.org/brook-highland-office Wasabi Juan’s is celebrating the third anniversary of its 280 location at 5037 U.S. 280. Mixing up sushi with burritos and tacos, it also offers snacks and nachos. 205-777-2714, wasabijuan.com/location-280 Debbie Skinner’s Interior Creations, 7459 Cahaba Valley Road, is celebrating six years in business. It offers custom woodwork for kitchens, bathrooms, bars and closets. 205-335-2076, debbieskinner.com
280Living.com
October 2021 • A17
Kamali Creole Kitchen offers a taste of New Orleans Kamali Creole Kitchen, located on the second story of The Village at Lee Branch above Hammer and Stain. Photo by Erin Nelson.
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE For those looking for a taste of New Orleans-style cuisine, there’s a new restaurant at The Village at Lee Branch: Kamali Creole Kitchen. The restaurant is owned by Ryan Emery and his wife, Qiana, who started their culinary adventure out of a food truck in 2019. They made stops at a variety of locations around Birmingham and were also requested for special events. After two years, Ryan said he wanted to turn his focus to a brick-and-mortar location. “We were looking at other locations on Southside around Lakeview, and then our friend’s real estate agent called and told us there was a place she wanted us to look at,” Ryan said. After seeing the former Pablo’s location, which includes an outdoor patio, Ryan said he decided that was the right space. The 5,600 square feet is much larger than he anticipated, Ryan said, but thought that God blessed them with it, so they were going to make it work. Everything on the menu is comprised of the Emerys’ family recipes, dating back to Ryan’s great-grandmother. “My mom was a cook, [and] my wife is also a chef along with my sister,” he said. “It runs in the family.” Ryan said his parents owned a small sports bar and grill in New Orleans, where he was born and raised. The Emerys moved to Birmingham in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina. When his mom had to have a tumor removed on her brain, Ryan moved to Los Angeles from Birmingham to be with his family in 2007. Before becoming a restaurateur, Ryan worked for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department before transferring to the Birmingham Police Department. He worked there for 13 years and was a sergeant at the time he took an early retirement to focus on his business. He stopped running the Kamali food truck in January to focus on his new restaurant plan.
“I wanted to do something. I always like to challenge myself to do something bigger and greater,” he said. “I thought, ‘What can I start that will be a foundation for my family to create generational wealth?’ I said people always have to eat, so I thought I’d bring New Orleans to Birmingham.” Kamali Creole Kitchen menu will feature different types of oysters (raw, baked, charbroiled and grilled), shrimp stew, different styles of po’boys, a seafood bowl, crawfish etouffée, shrimp etouffée. Other favorites will include jambalaya, gumbo and red beans and rice. Featured appetizers will be crabcakes and plantains, seafood french fries and crab and spinach dip. “Our gumbo will be made with the exact family recipe,” Ryan said. “It will have blue crab, shrimp stew meat, chicken, smoked hot sausage and everything we make at home. It’s
something I’ve never seen any restaurant offer in Birmingham.” The dessert menu will offer beignets, bananas foster, ooey gooey cake and bread pudding. Sunday brunch will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and feature live jazz music on the outdoor patio. The inside of the restaurant will have a black and gold theme in honor of the New Orleans Saints football team. An area inside, along with the outdoor patio, will have a Garden District theme. One of Emery’s daughters created artwork for the interior of the restaurant. There will be a Bourbon Street-themed area, and the front entrance will feature a selfie wall. Kamali Creole Kitchen will be a family affair. While Ryan has hired several new employees, the majority of his staff will be family, including his wife, children, parents,
Kamali Creole Kitchen • WHERE: 611 Doug Baker Blvd. at The Village at Lee Branch • WEB: kamalicreole.net
sister and niece, with his oldest son being the operations manager. The Emerys have lived in Calera for about four years. He and Qiana have six children ranging in age from 14 to 24. For more information on Kamali Creole Kitchen, visit kamalicreole.net or find them on social media at facebook.com/kamalicreole and Instagram at @kamalis_creole_kitchen.
A18 • October 2021
280 Living
Classy Contour Day Spa reopens following pandemic closure Dr. Twyla Swain, owner of Classy Contour Day Spa. Swain offers non-invasive options including body contouring, skin tightening, cellulite treatment and cryotherapy. Photo by Erin Nelson.
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Twyla Swain has always been into fitness. Her friends would come to her for advice on losing weight without going under the knife, so she began looking into ways for them to lose weight naturally. That’s when she decided to open her own business, Classy Contour Day Spa, to provide non-invasive services. She originally opened the spa during the pandemic but had to close like many other similar businesses. “I understood everything that was happening; it made sense,” she said. “I wanted to be safe and keep my clients safe.” Swain has spent her career working in nuclear medicine since graduating from UAB in 2007. For the past 12 years, she has traveled as a contract worker, performing nuclear studies for hospitals, outpatient centers, imaging centers and private doctor’s offices. But now her traveling days are over, at least for work. She was recently hired to oversee the nuclear medicine general department and nuclear cardiology at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in Anniston. Swain reopened Classy Contour Day Spa in February and has been seeing clients by appointment only, working around her regular schedule. She chose to open her spa off the U.S. 280 corridor because she has always liked the area and makes the drive from her home near Clanton to eat and shop. “I decided why not become certified and do this clinic? I wanted to make people feel good about themselves,” she said. “I try to book everyone on the same day,” she said. “I’ve been doing weekends, mostly Saturdays but plan to be at the spa more often.” She’s doing this all on her own right now, but plans to hire another medical director and nurse in the future. Swain offers non-invasive options including body contouring, skin tightening, cellulite treatment and cryotherapy. One of the most popular services is complete cavitation
(body contouring by fat elimination/reduction), which includes ultrasonic cavitation, vacuum suction, ultrasonic cavitation (body contouring with sound to eliminate stubborn fat) and wood therapy (a Columbian massage technique). Other services include a sauna blanket detox, vibration plate therapy, targeted and localized cryotherapy, a Frotox facial, red light infrared therapy and more. “Everything is non-invasive and simple,” Swain said. “The main goal is to help break down fat by using heat, cold or massage. All have the same goal: to help decrease fat.” Swain recommends two to three sessions for clients to achieve desired results but added that clients have to maintain results with a healthy diet and exercise. Many clients lose
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1-2 inches per session. Only one area is treated per week as not to overload the lymphatic system. Certain people can’t have any services because of their lymphatic system, Swain said. She doesn’t perform her services on diabetics who have circulation issues or those with other conditions including circulatory disease, kidney issues, pregnant women and those with heart issues, any skin conditions or anyone younger than 18. In the near future, she has plans to add other services, including IV hydration, which is vitamin therapy given through IV bags. “I will have a saline drip, athletic drip, beauty drip, detox drip, along with shots that include a fat burner, immunity, energy, vitamins and more.
Classy Contour Day Spa • WHERE: 5530 U.S. 280 • WHEN: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday • CALL: 205-386-0156 • WEB: classycontourdayspa. godaddysites.com
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280Living.com
October 2021 • A19
Kelvin and Janice Smith stand in front of a display of a variety of treats — including pastries, muffins, doughnuts and cupcakes — inside Rickey J’s Bakery’s new location along U.S. 280. Janice said she enjoys the designing side of baking, while Kelvin enjoys more of the baking side. Photos by Eric Taunton.
Rickey J’s Bakery finds a new home on 280 after 20 years in Clay community By ERIC TAUNTON Rickey J’s Bakery recently relocated to U.S. 280 after being in Clay for nearly two decades. The dessert shop offers a wide variety of sweets including cakes, cookies, cupcakes and pastries, along with a selection of salads. “We heard from God to make a move,” said Janice Brown, co-owner of Rickey J’s Bakery. Janice and her husband, Kelvin, opened Rickey J’s Bakery on Jan. 19, 2002, and named it in
honor of Janice’s son, who passed away. Janice said she enjoys the designing side of baking, while Kelvin enjoys the baking side. They both said running the store involves a lot of dedication and long hours, but they said they enjoy and take pride in what they do. “You have to enjoy what you’re doing, because it’s hard work and a lot of extremely long hours,” Kelvin said. “A person really has to be dedicated, and it has to be
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something you enjoy because anytime you do something you don’t enjoy, you won’t be in it for long.” Kelvin said they are grateful to their loyal customers who drive from east Birmingham to U.S. 280. Rickey J’s motto of “baking with love” is something that the Browns take very seriously, he said. He said that he’s harder on himself more than anyone because he really wants to do a good job and to see their customers walk away happy.
Rickey J’s Bakery • WHERE: 4647 U.S. 280 (near Chuck E. Cheese) • WHEN: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday • WEB: rickeyjscakes.com
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A20 • October 2021
280 Living
Bringing the beef to Brook Highland Franchisee opens his 3rd Beef O’Brady’s in metro Birmingham By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE George McCluney always knew he wanted to be in the hospitality industry. After spending much of his career working in human resources, he’s been a restaurant owner for the past decade. “What I really thought I wanted to do — being a music buff — was to have a New Yorkstyle jazz bar, but after I went down the road of research, I realized it didn’t make financial sense to do it,” McCluney said. When he saw a shopping center development was being built near his home in Hoover, he changed his plans to something different. McCluney knew about Beef O’Brady’s from family in Florida, and after visiting one in Tampa for the first time, he decided that it would be a perfect fit. Initially, the name was misleading to McCluney, as it is to many people. He didn’t know what to expect other than steaks, but to his surprise, the menu had something for everyone. Before opening his Hoover location, both of his children were playing middle school ball. “I told my wife that there was really nowhere to go after games, and that shopping center would be a great place to put a restaurant,” he said. It was 2010 when he opened his first Beef O’Brady’s location in Hoover. Although he wasn’t necessarily looking to expand, nearly five years later, he opened up his second location in Helena. “When I saw the location with a freestanding deck overlooking Buck Creek, I knew it would be a great spot,” he said. With roots dating back to 1985, Beef
Beef O’Brady’s is located in the Brook Highland shopping center, across from Ulta Beauty and Sprouts. Photo by Erin Nelson.
O’Brady’s first location was in Florida. It began as a family-friendly restaurant and also became a neighborhood pub for people to enjoy food and sports in a family-friendly atmosphere. “It’s my understanding that a local kid got pulled into MLB, and Jim Mellody [the founder of Beef O’Brady’s] went out and bought several TVs to put in the restaurant, and the whole
community would come out and watch this young man play,” McCluney said. After two successful locations, McCluney recently opened his third Beef O’Brady’s in the Brook Highland Plaza shopping center. “I really wasn’t looking to open a new store anytime soon, but with the incentives from corporate headquarters encouraging current
franchisees to open a new store, along with the location of the building [along the U.S. 280 corridor], I thought it made sense,” he said. After signing the lease on the building, which was formerly The Boot at Brook Highland, McCluney said progress happened relatively fast. In less than a month, the space had new flooring, new paint and new furniture. The restaurant could have opened sooner, but the hiring process was slow, he said. “It’s taken us this long to get what we feel like a solid core team,” he said. “We really wanted to have a total of 40 employees between servers, hosts, bartenders and kitchen staff. With the employment market the way it is, every business you drive by is hiring.” McCluney said he believes that many employees left the service industry after the frustration of restaurants being closed by the government but believes the workforce is slowly returning. He understands some people are still sensitive about the COVID-19 pandemic and being out in public, so the restaurant will have curbside options available for those who don’t want to eat inside. “We will have dine in, catering and curbside, which I don’t think will ever go away. It has picked up across the country for all our locations and continues to be a larger part of our business than pre-COVID,” he said. The menu features a variety of options including wings, burgers, wraps and sandwiches. There are also low-carb and gluten-free dishes as well. “My kids say we have the best fish tacos in town,” he said. “Our wings are by far the biggest seller, the Philly cheesesteak is the most popular sandwich, and every night we have a value priced option like Taco Tuesdays and Fajita Thursdays.” Beef O’Brady’s opened in Brook Highland on Sept. 13 and will be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit beefobradys. com/brookhighland.
280Living.com
October 2021 • A21
Chamber Veterans Affairs commissioner addresses members By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs was the guest speaker at the Shelby Chamber Luncheon on Sept. 9. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Kent Davis spoke about the ADVA and the benefits and services it provides to military veterans. “We are not the federal VA; we pick up where federal VA services stop,” Davis said. “Every state has its own Department of Veterans Affairs.” Its mission is to promote awareness and assist eligible veterans, their families and survivors to receive from the U.S. and state governments any benefits to which they may be entitled under existing or future laws to be enacted. The ADVA has three main areas of focus: ► Veterans Health Administration: Federal VA hospitals and outpatient clinics that provide psychological counseling. “There are several around the state providing valuable service for veterans and those coming home from deployment,” Davis said. ► Veterans Benefit Administration: Provides direct payments to veterans from the federal government, including pension, compensation, education and training, vocational rehabilitation, home loans, insurance and survivor benefits. ► National Cemetery Administration: Provides a dignified burial and lasting memorials for veterans and their eligible family members. There are three active veteran cemeteries in Alabama, including The National Cemetery (Montevallo), Fort Mitchell National Cemetery and the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort. “We are responsible for veterans from the time they take off their uniforms into eternity,”
Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Kent Davis talks about the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and the services it provides for veterans during The Shelby County Chamber’s Sept. 9 luncheon. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
he said. Davis said federal topics of interest for the ADVA include: ► Toxic exposures of Iraq-Afghanistan veterans ► A nationwide review of VHA facility infrastructure ► The backlog of disability claims ► The merger and electronic conversion of DoD-VA medical records “We are the customer service arm for veterans in the state of Alabama. We are their advocates, and our job is to advocate for every single Alabama veteran for any benefit or service that
might be available for them,” Davis said. The ADVA has approximately 1,200 employees that include 127 state employees and more than 1,000 contractor employees that serve around 400,000 Alabama veterans. “In Alabama, 1 out of 10 people are a military veteran. It’s one of the biggest states per capita for the veteran population,” Davis said. There are 70 facilities in the state, including four state veterans homes, 61 county-based veterans service offices, three district offices, one state veterans cemetery, and an appeals and review division office. The four state veterans homes are located in
Alexander City, Huntsville, Bay Minette and Pell City. A fifth home is currently under construction in Enterprise. ADVA’s generated federal revenue to Alabama in 2020 included: ► $2.6 billion in compensation and pension to Alabama veterans and their beneficiaries ► $1.4 billion in medical care ► $213 million in vocational rehabilitation and education The total federal VA expenditures in Alabama for 2020 was $4.32 billion. With a budget of approximately $190 million, the ADVA is overseen by a 17-member state Board of Veterans Affairs that includes the governor and 16 other members. Davis said their newest mission was creating an entire office focused on outreach and engagement. Alabama has one of worst rates of veteran suicide in the country at 18%. The new office, run by the assistant commissioner for outreach and engagement, is focused on partnerships with veterans and to help with issues such as homelessness, PTSD and suicides. “Eighty-three percent of those die by suicide using a firearm, compared to 51% nationwide,” Davis said. Nationally, approximately 17 veterans die by suicide per day, and 11 out of those 17 are not enrolled in VA health care. To help lower this statistic, ADVA created a campaign called Alabama’s Challenge: Veteran Suicide Prevention. The ADVA also has a dependent scholarship program for children of veterans. There are currently 16,727 enrolled in the program. It allows them to attend any state-sponsored institute of higher education and pays for their tuition and books. For more information visit va.alabama.gov.
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A22 • October 2021
280 Living
Shelby superintendents discuss state of schools By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Shelby County’s four superintendents addressed the state of the schools throughout Shelby County during a luncheon presented by The Shelby County Chamber on Aug. 25. Wayne Vickers (Alabaster City Schools), Dee Fowler (Hoover City Schools), Scott Coefield (Pelham City Schools) and Lewis Brooks (Shelby County Schools) each gave a brief update on their schools and then answered random questions chosen by the chamber’s work groups.
SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS
► Staff certified: 1,607; non-certified: 1,195 ► Student enrollment: 20,689 ► 2021 graduation rate: 95% “We recently launched a new strategic planning process,” Superintendent Brooks said. “Our leadership team is working on the next steps moving forward for our district.” He said priorities include innovation, community partnerships, recruitment and retention of employees along with leadership development are among the top priorities for Shelby County Schools. The system will soon launch a capital campaign of $41 million for renovations and upgrades to buildings across the district, especially in Chelsea, Calera and Helena. It has other plans already approved by the state but is waiting until construction prices come down to begin those. “Parent engagement is extremely important in our school district, and we plan to host PTO forums, relaunch the All-Pro Dad initiative, among other things, to give parent groups the opportunity to share concerns for their specific communities,” he said. Brooks thanked the chamber and 58 INC. for the summer career corp program that allowed
Shelby County Schools Superintendent Lewis Brooks speaks about the school system at a luncheon hosted by The Shelby County Chamber on Aug. 25. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
educators to be placed with companies to learn more about the career options and bring those back to their students. In regard to the role remote learning will play in the next academic year and beyond, Brooks said it is not what’s best for the students. “I think every school system superintendent, from what we’ve experienced, we realize that our students being in front of a teacher is the most important thing. It speaks to the quality of teachers we have in our districts represented here, and I think it speaks to what education is truly about.”
HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS
► Staff certified: 1,190; non-certified: 700 ► Student enrollment: 13,600 ► 2021 graduation rate: 94% Fowler, Hoover’s new superintendent, has been on the job since July 1. He said he has been visiting the schools and seen a lot of children who are happy to be at school to learn and be with their friends. He has also seen a lot of happy staff who are caring for them during this difficult situation. “We will work our dead-level best to love your children, to educate them and to prepare your children for a brighter future,” Fowler said. “I speak about academics, fine art, athletics, finance and what we’re doing in our district to give back to the community and community service of our children. I think it’s essential that we do that. I promise you that we will love your children and do everything we can to protect your children.” Fowler mentioned the two open work sessions the Hoover Board of Education had in July and allowed anyone who wanted to voice their opinions the opportunity to do so. He also mentioned the Career Connections Center (RC3), where students can take a variety of skilled trade and other trade classes to get
them college and career ready.
ALABASTER CITY SCHOOLS
► Staff certified: 550; non-certified: 354 ► Student enrollment: 6,219 ► 2021 graduation rate: 97% Superintendent Vickers said their 2021 college and career readiness is 97%, which matches their 97% graduation rate. “We are an example of a district wanting more for students and families and achieving what many thought was impossible,” he said. For families moving into Shelby County, Vickers said the schools are the cornerstone of the Alabaster community and there is strong community support and involvement at the schools. He said many students moved out of virtual and back into the classroom last year, and he believes the best place for students to learn is in the classroom.
PELHAM CITY SCHOOLS
► Staff certified: 262; non-certified: 147
► Student enrollment: 3,394 ► 2021 graduation rate: 93% Superintendent Cofield said he is proud of the high achieving school systems in Pelham. “Five years ago, we talked about five-year goals, and I feel good we have accomplished those,” he said. “We have a solid foundation related to finances, with well over two months of reserves. Our facilities are top notch with our four schools, two of them brand new.” They are already preparing for future growth and plan to acquire property to build a new school in the next seven or eight years. When asked what lessons he learned from the previous academic year during the pandemic, he said: “I can have just as many people praying and thanking me as telling me to go to hell.” He said none of the superintendents are qualified to be a health officer and believes there should be a central command and control during situations like COVID-19 and believes if this had happened in a time where the country was not so divided, things may have been different.
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280Living.com
October 2021 • A23
Chamber’s Minute
By The Shelby County Chamber
Nominations open for annual Diamond Awards The annual Diamond Awards, hosted by The Shelby County Chamber, are designed to honor organizations and individuals who help make Shelby County the best place to live and do business in our state. Nominations are open to the public. The nominee or the person submitting the nomination does not have to be an investor with The Shelby County Chamber. Nominees will be judged on both the quality and quantity of materials used to substantiate the award nomination. Categories to be recognized in 2021 include: ► Nonprofit Organization of the Year ► Public Servant of the Year ► Citizen of the Year One recipient will be recognized in each category. Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria: ► How the organization — or individual — has made a positive difference in the county or a specific municipality. ► Significant accomplishments achieved
by the organization or individual. ► How the organization — or individual — has improved the county or a specific municipality. In order to qualify, the nominated organization or individual should meet any one of the following: ► Operates in Shelby County ► Works in
Shelby County ► Lives in Shelby County Nomination packets are available online at shelbychamber.org or by contacting The Shelby County Chamber by phone at 205-6634542 or email at info@shelbychamber.org. The completed nomination packet must be received by no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 13 (to allow for judging). All nominees and the recipients in each category will be recognized during the Shelby County Diamond Awards Program luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 4 at the Grande Hall in the Old Mill Square facility in Columbiana.
A24 • October 2021
280 Living
Schoolhouse Have a schoolhouse announcement? Email Leah Ingram Eagle at leagle@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
For the love of music … and the students Spain Park welcomes Craig Cagle as new band director By JON ANDERSON
Craig Cagle, Spain Park High School’s new band director, on the field at Jaguar Stadium before the season-opening football game Aug. 20. Photo by Todd Lester.
There’s a new leader who has taken over the Spain Park High School band. Craig Cagle, who for the past 15 years has been the band director at Mortimer Jordan High School in north Jefferson County, has taken over the reins of the band program from Chris Neugent, who moved to the position of band director at Briarwood Christian School. The 44-year-old joined the Spain Park faculty in mid-July right at the beginning of marching season. “Fortunately, a lot of the preparation was already done” for this year’s marching band show, Cagle said. The music had already been selected and arranged, and the plan for movement of band members during the show — or drills as it is known in marching band circles — was written, he said. “All those elements were already in place.” If he and his assistants had had to start from scratch and create all that starting in mid-July, it would have been incredibly challenging, he said. “It’s a great halftime show,” he said.
This year’s show, titled “Neverland,” has a Peter Pan theme and includes “Lost Boy” by Ruth B, along with music from the movie “Hook,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and a ballad by Randy Crawford called “One Day I’ll Fly Away.” In addition to hosting the Sparks in the Park band competition at Spain Park on Sept. 28, Cagle said he looks forward to leading the band in competitions at Muscle Shoals and Jacksonville State University in October, putting together a holiday showcase with Spain Park’s choir program in December and working with the concert band, jazz band and small ensembles that perform chamber music. “Music’s my life. I love it,” Cagle said. “Performing, conducting, listening and sharing that with young people.” He wants to give his students the same understanding of music that he has and to experience the joy that can come from it. It’s about the music, but it’s also about the life lessons that come with being part of a band: self-discipline, self-motivation and how to be part of a team, Cagle said. “It’s not just a class you take. There’s a lot you learn from being in it,” he said.
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280Living.com
October 2021 • A25
I want them to know what our goals are. I like a class and a rehearsal that’s organized. Part of that is knowing expectations. Open and clear communication is paramount to being successful.
even Germany for about three years. When his father retired from the military, they moved back to Alabama, and Cagle finished up his last three years of high school at Buckhorn High School in Madison County. He went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1999 and master’s degree in trumpet music performance in 2001. His first job was as an assistant band director at Alice High School in Alice, Texas — about 1.5 hours from the Mexican border. The school was a little smaller than Spain Park but had a big band with about 350 students, he said. He stayed there five years before moving back to be closer to family in Alabama and taking the job at Mortimer Jordan. Cagle said he wasn’t looking to leave Mortimer Jordan, but Brian Wilson, the band director at Berry Middle School with whom he had worked when Wilson was at North Jefferson Middle School, made him aware of the opportunity, and he decided to apply. So far, it has been great, he said. “I’ve been well-received by the kids. They’ve been open to new ideas,” he said. Cagle said he took time to learn some of the traditions that his students wanted to keep, such as the “Land of 1,000 Dances” song played in the stands and the “SPHS” and “Jags” chants the students do at the end of every rehearsal, but he also wanted them to know his expectations for them. “I want them to know what our goals are,” he said. “I like a class and a rehearsal that’s organized. Part of that is knowing expectations. Open and clear communication is
”
CRAIG CAGLE
paramount to being successful.”
EXPERIENCING SUCCESS
Cagle said he wants his students to feel successful when they perform, whether they win the top trophy at competition or not. “If they feel like they’ve done their best and given 100%, that’s a win.” He wants them to get a well-rounded music education and grow, whether they end up making a career in music or simply enjoy it as a lifelong hobby, he said. He appreciates the talent and expertise of the other directors working with him, including Assistant Director Richard Adams, associate directors Brian Wilson and A.B. Baggett and a host of others leading various groups within the band, he said. Spain Park High School Principal Larry Giangrosso said Neugent’s departure was a big loss for Spain Park. The Spain Park band is one of the most joyous groups in the school, so he had to find someone who could continue that, yet challenge the band to reach new heights. Cagle did a wonderful job at Mortimer Jordan for many years, and “he brings a wealth of knowledge and he fits right in,” Giangrosso said. “We’re so thankful to have him on our campus and working with our students.” Cagle’s wife, Emily, teaches music at Bryan Elementary and is the majorette sponsor for the Mortimer Jordan band. They live in Gardendale and have three daughters: one who is a senior at Mortimer Jordan, one who is at Spain Park and one who is at Berry Middle.
The University of Montevallo began the fall 2021 semester with an enrollment of about 2,700, up about 4 percent since the fall 2019 semester. Photo courtesy of Neal Wagner.
University of Montevallo enrollment continues to grow The University of Montevallo continued to see enrollment growth this fall, posting its highest overall enrollment in several years. The university began the fall semester Aug. 23 with a total enrollment of about 2,700, which is up about 4 percent since the fall 2019 semester. UM welcomed 527 freshmen this semester, which is its largest freshman class since 2015. Montevallo’s graduate programs in the Stephens College of Business and College of Education and Human Development continued to see particularly strong enrollment growth. “Our enrollment trends are indicative of terrific leadership in our enrollment management
division, our Falcon Success Center and a remarkably devoted faculty and staff who serve students every day,” UM President John W. Stewart III said. UM’s rising enrollment comes in the wake of numerous prestigious accolades for its academic programs and beautiful campus over the past several years, including designation as a College of Distinction for the past 10 years and high placement in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. The university has also frozen tuition since 2018, and it will remain frozen through the 2021-22 academic year. – Submitted by Neal Wagner.
A26 • October 2021
280 Living
Above left: The Chelsea marching band performs during halftime of the Hornets’ opening game against Oak Mountain on Aug. 20 at Chelsea High School. Photo by Erin Nelson. Above right: The Briarwood marching band performs during halftime of a game between Briarwood and Spain Park on Aug. 27 at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover. Photo by Todd Lester.
Above left: The Oak Mountain marching band performs during halftime of the Eagles’ opening game against Chelsea on Aug. 20 at Chelsea High School. Photo by Erin Nelson. Above right: The Spain Park marching band performs during halftime of a game between Spain Park and Hewitt-Trussville on Sept. 3 at Hewitt-Trussville High School. Photo by Laura Chramer.
STRIKE UP THE BAND High school band directors share what’s in store for students’ fall shows and beyond By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Band students put in hours of practice and hard work on their halftime shows. From summer band, throughout marching season and the rest of the school year, they stay busy practicing their performances. 280 Living spoke with the four band directors in our coverage area and found out a bit about them and what their bands have in store for their fall show and beyond.
CHRIS NEUGENT, BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Chris Neugent is in his first year as director of the Briarwood Christian School marching band and his 21st year in education. He left Spain Park at the end of last school year after 11 years. He previously taught at Oak Grove and Simmons Middle. Neugent said it is exciting to work in a place where you are building upon traditions but also establishing new ones. “Change can be really hard, but it’s also an opportunity Neugent for growth and new ideas and new enthusiasm and that’s definitely something we experience here at BCS,” he said. One of his new traditions is having a band pregame show before the game begins. Also new this year is assistant band director, Chris Brown, who had previously worked with BCS in an adjunct role. ► The show: The Lions marching band theme for this year is Rise Up, based on
Isaiah 40:28-31. It will feature music from “Firebird,” “How to Train Your Dragon” and a vocal accompaniment from freshman color guard member Hannah Jahraus singing “Rise Up” by Audra Day. ► Number of band members: 44 ► Drum major: Burton Collis ► Plans after marching season: Transition to concert season starts once and start jazz band.
KEVIN OWNBY/TRAVIS BENDER, OAK MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL
Bender, the associate director for bands, has been directing the Spirit of Cahaba band for the past 10 years, along with Kevin Owenby, the band director, who has been there 18 years. He is also the fine arts department chair, overseeing all of the fine arts programs at OMHS. ► The show: This year’s theme is The Wild, Wild West and features songs from “The Magnificent Seven,” “Shenandoah,” the theme from “Silverado” and the “William Tell Overture,” Bender along with sub-themes from “Bonanza” and “Rodeo” from Copland. “We always try to design shows that are going to appeal to crowds at football games,” Bender said. “The number one thing we focus on is that it is recognizable. ► Number of band members: 256 ► Drum majors: Aubrey Morrow (head), Esmeralda Soto-Ceballos and Mina Webster (assistants) ► Plans after marching season: Move into
a concert band season. They will perform four concerts, along with the percussion ensemble and jazz band. Those dates will be listed on the band’s website. ► A big honor: The wind ensemble was selected to play at the Alabama Music Educators conference Jan. 21 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
CRAIG CAGLE, SPAIN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Cagle is new to Spain Park this year after directing at Mortimer Jordan High School for the past 15 years. He taught in Texas for five years prior to that. He said his move to Spain Park was unexpected, as he wasn’t looking to leave his former job, but when it opened up, he applied for it. “My first day was July 12, and we started band camp. The next week we started twoand-a-half weeks of band camp, then school Cagle started,” he said. ► The show: Thanks to planning by last year’s staff members, the “Neverland”-themed show was already done when Cagle arrived. “It’s a take on the Peter Pan story with music from the movie ‘Hook,’ ‘Lost Boy’ by Ruth B. and ‘One Day I’ll Fly Away.’ It will also include bits from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ and groups on the field will be in costumes of The Lost Boys, pirates, fairies and Captain Hook. ► Number of band members: 170 ► Drum majors: Cecelia Pagan, Allison Smith and Paris Wagner
► Plans after marching season: Move into concert band mode, perform at the school’s holiday showcase and do competitions and festivals in the spring.
PERRY LAWLEY, CHELSEA HIGH SCHOOL
Perry Lawley is in his sixth year as band director at Chelsea. In his 18 years in education, he has also directed at Pinson Valley and Montevallo high schools. ► The show: This year’s theme is Take on Me, which is the opening number. “Everything after that uses material from it,” Lawley said. “Other songs are ‘Feel This Moment’ by Christina Aguilera, ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran and ‘Blinding Lights’ by The Weeknd. All the Lawley music is linked to the first tune.” ► Number of band members: 167 ► Drum majors: Maddie Larkin (head), Trinity Alexander and Sage Hubert (assistants) ► Plans after marching season: A fall concert Oct. 26, followed by a Christmas concert Dec. 9 and a spring concert in May. “I would like to highlight the outstanding work that Deana Rizzo does each year as the band director at Chelsea Middle School. No high school band can have any success without a solid feeder program,” he said. “I am much indebted to her drive and love for the students. We are proud of the color guard, dance line and majorette squads who all contribute so much energy and visual sparkle to our halftime show.”
280Living.com
October 2021 • A27
Shelby school board approves 2022 budget By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Shelby County Board of Education on Sept. 16 unanimously approved a $322 million budget for fiscal 2022, which begins Oct. 1. The school board expects to receive $313.5 million in revenues and get almost $3.6 million in funds from other sources. Assistant Superintendent of Finance John Gwin explained that the school system received money through the federal CARES Act that can be spent through 2023. “Ending balances and revenue both higher than last year,” Gwin said. The board also approved $33,000 in grant distributions for partners that help serve at-risk students. The Owens House, which offers programs and support to Shelby County Schools that address behavior and academics that often put students at risk, was awarded $14,000. Owens House supports students and extended family who have been victims of abuse, and with this financial support, it will partner with the school system to provide child safety programs for the 6,150 Shelby County students in grades K-3. The D.A.Y. Program was also awarded $14,000. This program provides a comprehensive youth service center to help high-risk adolescents and their families and is individualized to meet the unique needs of each youth in their specific situation by motivating middle and high school students and helping with remediation, enrichment and
Shelby County Board of Education President Aubrey Miller, left, and Superintendent Lewis Brooks, center, discuss agenda items while board Secretary Tracy Whitfield takes notes during the board’s Sept. 16 meeting. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
dropout prevention. Family Connections, which assists Shelby County Schools in dealing with students who are at-risk for dropping out of school, failing school due to truancy, behavioral difficulties, runaways and the homeless, was awarded $5,000. The program provides individual and group counseling, tutoring on a group and individual basis, family counseling and extensive aftercare services at local schools.
During his superintendent’s report, Lewis Brooks recognized two groups for their achievements. First, the Shelby County Project SEARCH team earned the Excellent Employment Outcome Award. Students with developmental disabilities and delays achieved between 70% to 90% employment from 2019-20. The transitional program is for high school students between the ages of 18 and 21 in their last eligible year of high school.
“Students participated in internships to learn job skills to help them gain employment,” Brooks said. “This is Project SEARCH’s 10th year in Shelby County, and they have documented at least 80% employment every year. Forty-three out of 45 students were employed in the last five years.” Also, Shelby County Schools received the Community Partner Award for its years of partnership and collaboration in the summer
youth program. Shelby County Schools has also provided locations for many years for these summer programs, which provide resources for individuals with developmental disabilities from early intervention to employment support programs. Also during its Sept. 16 meeting, the board approved administrators for three local schools: ► Melissa Ellison was approved as the new assistant principal at Shelby County High School. She has more than 18 years of experience in public education and currently serves as the business teacher at Calera High School. ► Wendy Cespedes was approved as the new assistant principal at Vincent Elementary School. She has 10 years of experience in elementary education and is currently a second grade teacher at Forest Oaks Elementary School. ► Matthew Epps will serve as the new principal for Helena Middle School. He has more than 15 years of experience in education and serves as the assistant principal at Oak Mountain High School. Jay Peoples was also approved as the new coordinator of instruction for Shelby County Schools. His present position is high school coordinator for Shelby County Schools. He has served as the principal at Helena High School and Chelsea High School and has worked in public education for 29 years. The board also agreed to hire Commercial Floor Systems for some flooring projects in the school district.
Gunn takes over as principal at Oak Mountain High By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Just days after the retirement of Kristie Sayers, Oak Mountain found its new principal. The Shelby County Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of Andrew Gunn to take over as principal of OMHS. Gunn has over 17 years experience and has most recently worked as the principal at Helena Middle School. He thanked the board for the opportunity to serve in the Oak Mountain community and thanked his wife for her support and encouragement. “I will work hard every day to do best for students and their best interest,” Gunn said. “I also want to thank those in the Helena community for the last four years. They are some of the finest people I know, and I appreciate every moment there and look forward to what we can do at OMHS.” For his superintendent’s report, Lewis Brooks showed a video of the opening days of school. In her instruction report, Lynn Carroll thanked the board for its support in beginning the new school year. She gave an update on a new program that will soon be implemented: PowerSchool. There have been a few hiccups in getting it up and running, but it should all be worked out soon, she said. PowerSchool will be where the operations of schools are managed and will also feature a parent portal where students’ grades can be checked. “It’s going to be a great program when we get it fully implemented,” Carroll said. John Gwin reviewed the finances for the school board and said the current unreserved general balance is $36,543,400.80, which is about 2.1 months of reserve. He said that
Andrew Gunn was named the new principal for Oak Mountain High School at the Shelby County Board of Education meeting Aug. 26. Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
number will go down because all the property tax money is in, but it is still above the target of where the balance should be. Gwin said the local tax revenue comparison fee is on trend of meeting the projections on property tax, ad valorem tax, car tag tax, sales tax and alcohol beverage tax. Items the board approved during the meeting were: ► Renewing the ATBE General liability, errors and omissions liability fund agreement for one year. ► Approving job descriptions for a mental health service employee and
a secondary school coordinator. ► Approving the revision of employee contract days (due to Juneteenth being made a national holiday). ► Approving personnel actions. The board also approved a bid for more repairs needed at Oak Mountain Middle School as a result of tornado damage from March. “The state allowed us to move immediately and address certain items in regards to building security and any repairs to prevent further damage, but this is for other things that weren’t an immediate need in
which we had to follow the state process for bids,” said David Calhoun, assisted superintendent of operations. A bid was approved to Williford Orman Construction for $871,230, a majority of which will address soft spots in the roof and HVAC needs. During the architect and construction report, Barbara Snyder gave an update on several projects. ► Repairs continue at Oak Mountain Middle and Heardmont Park, and those were expected to be completed in mid-October. ► Meeting with the architect and engineer to determine the next steps for Montevallo Middle School. ► Helena Middle School canopy covers to provide ADA access to the gym is currently underway. ► Paving package is almost complete and will have an extensive punch list addressed before final inspection. After covering all of the meeting items, Brooks recognized those who had come to the meeting as a result of a letter that went out earlier in the day stating Shelby County students would be required to wear masks until Oct. 1. Brooks said at the beginning of the year that they said they wanted to have as normal of a school year as possible and said every attempt had been made to do that. But, he added, nothing that they have dealt with in the past 18 months or even the past two months has been normal. “I have spent hours on Zoom calls and Google Meets with health officials and state leaders to talk about our approach to opening schools,” he said. “What has taken place over the last few days has been quite alarming. We put out info today [Aug. 26] saying we had 252 cases [of COVID19]. I realize that 252 is 1% of our faculties and students … and maybe it doesn’t seem significant. But what
is concerning is ... the pattern we are seeing in rising cases.” In mid-August, Brooks received a letter from state health officer Scott Harris indicating they had to comply with the Alabama Department of Public Health toolkit. “If we have students who test positive, they will be sent home and keep all the other students at school, and if they develop symptoms, they will be sent home and let the parents make the determination to get them tested,” he said. “When I got the letter that we had to start sending kids home who were in close contact, that alarmed me.” Last school year, upward of 85,000 students were sent home, some multiple times, Brooks said. They had to be quarantined and never got sick. Brooks said the temporary mask mandate was put into place so that many kids would not have to be sent home. “I understand that it upsets you,” he said. “It’s frustrating for us as a school. We are very concerned about the last 18 months and the amount of learning loss that has taken place. “I will tell you, today’s decision was a very difficult decision that didn’t just take place today, but from conversations taking place over the last week as we started to see numbers rise. While today’s decision and conversation we had about this I realize it is very unpopular, but the greatest thing we are concerned about is if cases continue to rise and we have faculty and staff that can’t come to work because they are sick, we have no recourse but to shut down, and that’s not what we want to get to. Our goal as a school system is to keep our doors open.” Several individuals in attendance spoke out against the mask mandate before the meeting was adjourned, twice. Brooks stayed after the meeting and continued having individual conversations with parents.
A28 • October 2021
280 Living
Events The Alabama Wildlife Center will soon welcome guests for its annual Owlo-Ween event on Oct. 30. at its location at Oak Mountain State Park. Photo courtesy of Alabama Wildlife Center.
Meet birds in person at Alabama Wildlife Center’s Owl-O-Ween By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The annual Owl-O-Ween event returns to the Alabama Wildlife Center later this month. The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a variety of owl-themed activities at their location inside Oak Mountain State Park. Executive Director Doug Adair said they will put visitors’ safety first and ask guests to mask and social distance as appropriate. “We love to celebrate this beautiful time of year in particular and allow visitors to meet the AWC’s owl education birds in person,” Adair said. Guests will be given treat bags and can enjoy the “owl prowl,” which features an indoor tunnel around their aviaries lit with black lights. Guests will be able to have up close and
personal encounters with the educator ambassador raptors on the glove, including the largest owl species in the world, the Eurasian eagle owl. There will be craft activities for kids, along with goodie bags and games. New this year will be a costume contest. “We encourage our young visitors to come in costume and we will be awarding a prize for the best Owl-O-Ween costume,” Adair said. The highlight of every Owl-O-Ween is the release of a rehabilitated owl back into the wild. The event is free, but the Alabama Wildlife Center will be accepting donations to help continue its operations, as it is a nonprofit organization. Admission to Oak Mountain State Park is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 4-11 and those 62 or older. For more information, visit alabama wildlifecenter.org.
205.621.7355
Old Baker Farm opened its pumpkin patch Sept. 25, and it will continue through Halloween. Photo courtesy of Old Baker Farm.
Old Baker Farm to offer a slate of activities for families this October By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE A fall tradition for many families is back this year. Old Baker Farm will open its pumpkin patch Sept. 25, and it will continue through Halloween. The farm will be open weekdays from 3 p.m. until dark, Saturdays from 9 a.m. until dark and Sundays from 1 p.m. until dark for visitors to enjoy a hayride, pick out a pumpkin and enjoy other activities that include a corn maze, train ride, a petting farm and a “hay” ground. Other items available for purchase include sunflowers for $1 per stalk and cotton
bolls, four for $1. Admission is $11 ($10 cash) and includes a pumpkin. Children 1 year old and younger are free. Other fall events at Old Baker Farm include Cowboy Days on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 10, from 1-5 p.m., plus a Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 6-9 p.m. The Festival Weekend, featuring local vendors selling handcrafted items, will be Oct. 23-24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Old Baker Farm is located off U.S. 280 outside of Chelsea at 1041 Farmingdale Road, Harpersville. For more information visit oldbakerfarm.com.
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October 2021 • A29
A child looks out during the 2017 Hoover Hayride and Family Night that included trickor-treat booths and food vendors. The event returns this year to Veterans Park on Oct. 29. Staff photo.
Mt Laurel Fall Festival returns this month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Hoover Hayride and Family Night Mt Laurel Fall Festival set for Oct. 16 returns this year to Veterans Park By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
By JON ANDERSON The city of Hoover plans to host its 2021 Hoover Hayride and Family Night at Veterans Park on Valleydale Road on Friday, Oct. 29. It has been two years since the event has taken place. The hayride night last year was originally changed to a Treat Night at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, but eventually canceled due to evolving recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year’s celebration is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. at Veterans Park if health conditions allow. “I’m hoping we can still do it as planned,” city events coordinator Erin Colbaugh said. The hayride night is normally on a Thursday night to avoid conflicts with high school
football games, but this year Hoover High School has no football game Oct. 29 and Spain Park High School’s football game that week is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 28. At Hoover Hayride and Family Night, there usually are at least six tractors pulling trailers filled with hay around a decorated path, and kids are encouraged to dress in costumes. The Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce recruits businesses, churches and other groups to hand out candy to the kids at booths, and kids are encouraged to bring bags to collect the candy. There also will be food trucks there to provide dinner or snacks, Colbaugh said. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available at Spain Park High School.
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After having to cancel the past three festivals, the Mt Laurel Fall Festival returns this month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Kristie Castro, marketing director for ARC Realty, said the past two spring festivals along with last year’s fall festival have had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Castro has been assisting with organizing the festival since ARC Realty took over new construction sales in Mt Laurel four years ago. “The town of Mt Laurel’s residents love the event, and it’s a great opportunity to support local artisans who make handmade goods and show off to the community,” Castro said. This year’s festival will be the 20th annual and will feature all of the familiar favorites, including a farmers market, food trucks, live
music, a kid’s zone, craft fair and vendors. Vendor registration began in mid-August, and Castro said sign-ups have been coming in every day. She said the festival vendors are loyal and are excited to return for this year’s festival. “We typically have around 200 vendors, but this year with COVID, to allow ample social distancing, there will be fewer vendors,” she said. “We will expand the festival’s footprint to go back further in the community to create more space.” Castro said that in the past, attendance has been in the thousands, but added that it’s hard to keep track of the number of people because it’s a five-hour event. “The event is a long standing event in the community and really birthed around showcasing the town of Mt Laurel and bringing in people to visit.”
A30 • October 2021
280 Living
COMMISSIONERS
CONTINUED from page A1 leaders, and in turn, highly qualified management staff has been hired to run many local operations. Maintaining this service for the citizens is really important to me, as a public servant and a citizen. Q: What are some of the successes you’ve had or positive changes you’ve seen over your tenure? A: In my 29 years on the commission and with the exceptional growth Shelby County has experienced, I have watched the county develop from a very rural area to now a very sophisticated governing system. It did not happen overnight. A lot of thought and planning went into our current county operations. The county comprehensive plan established in 1996 developed our current park system throughout the county, and the county Planning Department outlined an approach to reasonable land use. Over the last 28 years, a lot of planning and outlining on how this county should function and develop took place. An updated plan requesting citizens participation is underway, and all Shelby County citizens should weigh in in order to have a voice in how their county is developed in the future. Q: What are the most important issues to you? A: Providing the necessary services that the citizens desire with reasonable taxes. Q: What other committees, organizations or community service organizations are you involved with? A: I’m a board member of Central Alabama Wellness (the mental health and substance abuse provider for the county), a board member for Shelby County Community Corrections, board member and president of Leadership Shelby County and a member of the Shelby County Indigent Defense Board. Q: What do you do for your day job? A: I’ve spent 35 years practicing law. Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? A: Besides spending time with my family and friends, I enjoy biking, hiking, all types of skiing and just about anything I can to learn something new. Q: Tell us about your family. A: I’ve been married to Russ Allison for 38 years. We met in law school and have two daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law and two amazing granddaughters.
ROBBIE HAYES
► District 9; 18 years on the commission ► Hayes was appointed by former Gov. Bob Riley to finish the term of Commissioner Don Armstrong when he was appointed property tax commissioner in 2003. He has since won five subsequent elections from 2004 to 2020. He also serves as the vice chairman of the commission. His territory for District 9 covers from I-65 in Pelham on the south edge of Oak Mountain State Park down Shelby County 11 east of U.S. 280 along Shelby County 43 and includes all of Chelsea, most of Westover, the northern edge of Columbiana and the northeast corner of Alabaster. Q: What do you enjoy most about serving as a county commissioner? A: I like being a part of the team that keeps moving Shelby County in positive directions. These include infrastructure development, parks and trails, and facilities that benefit the residents of Shelby County and the surrounding area. Q: What are some of the successes you’ve had or positive changes you’ve seen over your tenure? A: I am particularly proud at how our commission works together on all aspects of Shelby County, on both county projects and in cooperation with the state and cities and communities across the county. The commission has been very strong in the development of all types of recreational areas, from senior centers to athletic facilities to nature trails. Current projects that I see as very positive are the P25 radio system to benefit all law enforcement and other first responders in all 800-plus square miles of the county and the soon-to-open County Services Building on U.S. 280. The new round-about intersection by the Shelby County Airport and Shelby West Parkway at I-65 has been a major road improvement. Also, the multiple events of the Shelby County Arts Council at the Old Mill Square in Columbiana have been very successful. Q: What are the most important issues to you?
Clockwise, from above left: Lindsey Allison, Robbie Hayes, Mike Vest and Rick Shepherd. Photos by Erin Nelson.
A: As a commission, I hope to continue improving services, infrastructure/roads and bridges, recreational amenities and opportunities for growth in Shelby County. Most importantly, we will do this with a conservative, within-the-budget approach that has been so successful during my tenure. Q: What other committees, organizations or community service organizations are you involved with? A: At any one time over the last 18 years, I have served with as many as eight boards or community service organizations at once. Currently, I am a member of the Regional Planning Committee of Greater Birmingham, the Chelsea Business Alliance and the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea. I have many years of involvement with the Regions Tradition golf tournament and Chelsea sports programs, including 32 years as a sideline volunteer for Chelsea High School football. Q: What do you do for your day job? A: I got my doctorate from UAB School of Optometry in 1988 and have practiced in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. I opened Hayes Eye Center in Chelsea in 1991. Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? A: Rare free time is spent mostly doing things with family, like attending Alabama football and softball games and the occasional trip to the beach. Q: Tell us about your family. A: My wife, Kim, is a medical technologist at Shelby Baptist. We have two daughters, P.J. and Tiffany. P.J. is a cardiac intensive care nurse, and Tiffany is a kindergarten teacher in Shelby County. Our son, Will, is a senior at the University of Alabama and a manager for the Alabama softball team. He hopes to get his doctorate in physical therapy.
RICK SHEPHERD
► District 8; 13 years on the commission ► Shepherd is in his fourth term serving on the commission after being elected in 2008. His territory for District 8 covers the Brook Highland, Greystone, Highland Lakes, Mt Laurel, Shoal Creek, Dunnavant, Vandiver and Sterrett areas. Q: What do you like most about serving as a county commissioner? A: There’s always something new. Shelby County is a great place to live. With the small amount of industry in the county, we are more focused on the quality of life for our residents. We’ve seen enormous growth and challenges come with that growth. It’s an exciting time to be a county commissioner in Shelby County. I love helping our community experience this positive change. Q: What are some of the successes you’ve
had or positive changes you’ve seen over your tenure? A: We’ve been able to create a trail system in Shelby County. We’ve added more recreational parks and senior centers. Other services include recycling services and more local sporting and recreational events. We’re constantly chosen as the No. 1 county to live in in Alabama. We have a great staff and great people in our county. With this, good things tend to happen. Q: What are the most important issues to you? A: The people in Shelby County. I became a county commissioner so I could make a positive difference. I strive everyday to see how I can help with roads, bridges, law enforcement, airport, recreation, trails, etc., I want to make sure our resources are the best in Alabama. Q: What other committees, organizations or community service organizations are you involved with? A: I’m on the Finance Committee for the commission, president of Shelby 911, on the Republican Party steering committee, director on the Alabama Supercomputer Authority Board, as well as a member of several other organizations in the metro area. Q: What do you do for your day job? A: I am a regional sales manager for a large cybersecurity company. Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? A: I love spending time with my family, hiking, camping and SEC sports. Q: Tell us about your family A: I have been married for 31 years to my wife, Shannon. We have two children: Anna is a teacher at Oak Mountain Elementary, and Will works for Dell in Nashville as a technical sales representative. Both graduated from Auburn, and Anna recently married Andrew Beatty.
MIKE VEST
► District 6; nine years on the commission ► Vest has served on the commission since 2012. His territory in District 6 covers the northside of Valleydale Road from Riverchase to U.S. 280 and where Jefferson and Shelby County meet. Q: What do you enjoy most about serving as a county commissioner? A: I really enjoy helping folks who aren’t really sure on how to go about finding the right answers to the questions they have. It’s always a good feeling knowing that their answers to their concerns were completed in a timely manner. This is thanks to our awesome administration and their commitment to assist them very quickly. Q: What are some of the successes you’ve had or positive changes you’ve seen over your tenure?
A: I don’t consider anything that’s accomplished a success that I had, but we as a whole have done some amazing things. I’m very proud of us going through certain funding crunching times, and we were good stewards of our constituents’ funding yet continuing to maintain the same quality. Q: What are some things the commission has done that you are most proud? A: School resource officers/public safety; our quick response to get our constituents vaccinated; current road work improvement on Valleydale Road and Riverchase; Big Brothers Big Sisters’ success and other much-needed and fantastic nonprofits that make Shelby County a great county; the greenway walking path in Inverness; and partnering with cities to take Shelby County to next levels. Q: What are the most important issues to you? A: Being good stewards of our constituents’ funding, public safety, student safety, helping our residents who are less fortunate and building relationships. Q: What other committees, organizations or community service organizations are you involved with? A: Worthwhile nonprofits have always been near and dear to me, and so I do whatever I can to promote them. Throughout my tenure, I’ve been a deacon in my church; a youth group leader for seven straight years until last year; an Oak Mountain youth football, baseball and YMCA basketball coach; served on many nonprofit boards such as The Day Program and BBBS; and am a proud member of Leadership Shelby County. Q: What do you do for your day job? A: I am a sales rep for a distributing company. Prior to this, I was an executive director of the nonprofit Addiction Prevention Coalition. Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? A: I enjoy going to Oak Mountain State Park and hiking, going to Veterans Park on Valleydale Road and walking. My wife, Diana, and I have just become empty-nesters, so there’s no telling what is in store. Our three children — Billy, Kayce and Griffin — all went through the Oak Mountain school system. We also have two dogs: our harlequin Great Dane (Deacon) and our pomsky (Piper). Other members of the Shelby County Commission include Kevin Morris (District 1), Tommy Edwards (District 2), Jon Parker (District 3), Ward Williams (District 4) and Chairman Elwyn Bearden (District 5). The Shelby County Commission meets on the second (8:30 a.m.) and fourth (6 p.m.) Monday of each month at the Shelby County Administration Building in Columbiana.
280Living.com
October 2021 • A31 Left: Sean “Rockstar” Heninger, the producer of the sports show The Next Round, monitors audio as sports show hosts, background from left, Ryan Brown, Jim Dunaway and Lance Taylor lead the show Sept. 9. Below: The Next Round is live each day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch and just about any other digital platform. The Next Round mobile app is available in the App Store and on Google Play. The show is also streamed on nextroundlive. com. Photos by Erin Nelson.
ROUND
CONTINUED from page A1 football and whatever other sports and entertainment topics that day presents. “It’s been pretty incredible,” Taylor said. “You try to visualize something that you’re putting together yourselves, something that we’ve dreamed about for a long time.”
A LEAP OF FAITH
The decision to leave JOX was an amicable one. The four combined for nearly 80 years of work at the station and were even offered a contract extension to stay on. But this felt like the right time to pursue a new opportunity. Thus, the formation of DBL Down Media and The Next Round. After years on an audioonly platform, the show has expanded to visual mediums. Dunaway and Brown have done television work for many years, but there was certainly an adjustment period for all of them. “We’ve gotten in a groove now, and everything does feel normal, even though it’s a new platform, studio and such. It took a minute to get comfortable,” Brown said. The Next Round is live each day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch and just about any other digital platform. The Next Round mobile app is available in the App Store and on Google Play. The show is also streamed on nextroundlive. com. Basically, the show can be found anywhere but the traditional radio dial. Becoming their own bosses has a definite payoff, but getting everything set up was no small feat. Aside from handling the logistics of forming an LLC, setting up payroll services and many other administrative tasks, there was the main hurdle: finding a place to build a studio. They found a home in the Blue Lake Center, just off the Interstate 459 and U.S. 280 interchange. There were less than two weeks from the time they gained access to the building to the first show. “We did not do a run-through on the equipment until the day before our first show,” Brown said. “That’s how close to the wire we were to getting this thing pulled off.” Heninger says it is still scary every day, knowing how much has gone into making it all come together, but he also greatly appreciates the freedom the group has to take the show in any direction. “There was stuff we wanted to do. It was a leap of faith, and we’re still taking it, but so far, so good,” he said. But, he added, “the least stressful part was 9 a.m. on Aug. 16. Once we got to do what we do again, the weight was taken off.”
A MARRIAGE THAT’S WORKED
Dunaway and Brown had a show together
on AM radio, while Taylor and Heninger had been together since about 2005. When the four were joined together at JOX at the turn of the calendar in 2010, there were surely doubts of how the new dynamic would develop. Fast forward 11 years, and there’s no end in sight. “Oh, we have no idea,” Taylor said when asked how it worked out so well. “For whatever reason, our personalities are so different, it just came together. There’s the old saying ‘opposites attract,’ but we do have a lot of similarities, too. It’s really just meshed.” Their personalities complement each other. At the desk, Brown, Dunaway and Taylor can talk about anything and everything. From behind the glass, Rockstar chimes in with piercing one-liners and adds flair to the show with regular segments (Rockstar’s Playhouse is unique to say the least). “Never did I ever think in the first month of the show I would be on Twitter and have video of me in my underwear,” Heninger said. “Stuff like that isn’t planned. It just happens. I don’t think we could pull it off if it wasn’t organic.” The group has become so tight-knit that there were no hesitations or lack of trust when deciding to enter new territory together. “The whole belief in your team is critical,” Brown said. “It was non-negotiable. We were all on board, or we weren’t going to do it. That was understood from the beginning. We’ve got whole faith in one another, and we all want the
same level of success. Without that, there’s no way this works.” The commitment from Brown, Dunaway, Taylor and Heninger was tangible as well. Real sacrifices were made by all involved. “We’ve all put our own money into this,” Dunaway said. “This is our money, we’ve built this out. People have refinanced houses, sold houses, taken money out of savings to invest in this. It’s exciting and scary, but it’s also a life work, and that’s what this is for us.” The first new addition to the team has been director of video Scott Forester, who previously worked at ABC 33/40 and is widely considered the best sports videographer in the area. “We honestly didn’t think we could pry him away,” Brown said. “We thought, let’s take him to lunch and we made the pitch. If we could get Scott, we’ve got the dream team.” “It’s been the core four of us, and we’ve added people we feel like fit in with us,” Dunaway said. “It’s been neat to come to work in an atmosphere where everybody’s pulling in the same direction.”
A PART OF THE CITY’S FABRIC
For listeners and viewers in central Alabama, one of the most appealing facets of The Next Round crew is the sense of connectedness they all share to the community. The stories of their childhood are relatable, and they all currently live in the area. Brown is from Calhoun County, Dunaway
from Alabaster, Taylor from Homewood and Heninger from Vestavia Hills. There was never a thought of them doing anything outside of Birmingham. “One of the reasons we do what we do is we love this city,” Taylor said. “This city is such a big part of this job.” They were blown away at the number of sponsors and supporters willing to follow them into their new venture, sight unseen. “When we would tell them what happened [leaving WJOX], they always said, ‘We want in,’” Dunaway said. “We were like, ‘Well, we’re not to that point yet. We don’t know what we’re doing.’ They said, ‘It doesn’t matter, we’re in.’” Many of those local sponsors were key in helping them get their new studio in working order before the first show. “That was huge, to be able to use local companies,” Brown said. “Birmingham has been so good to us, and if we can, we want to give back in any way we can.” Anyone in the country has access to The Next Round, but the people in Birmingham, and throughout the U.S. 280 corridor in particular, make the show what it is. “It’s a big part of the fiber that we are, and we never want to lose that,” Taylor said. “The success that we’re having, whatever that is, is all based upon having great viewers and listeners and sponsors. We appreciate everything they do.”
SECTION
B
Real Estate B26
OCTOBER 2021
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Fall
Home & Garden Guide
Gardner Landscaping.................... B1 Standard Air, Plumbing & Insulation................................ B2 DSLD Land Management featuring Aquascapes and Desjoyaux Pools... B3 Urban Home Market..................... B4 Guin Service.................................. B6 Brewer Roofing and Construction.B7 Alabama Mold & Mildew Solutions....................... B8 Carpet Warehouse Galleria........... B9 Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware.... B10 Pam Grant, Ted Gregg and Daniel Worthington – RE/MAX Southern Homes...................... B11 Classic Home Mortgage Inc........ B12 Terry Crutchfield, RE/MAX Southern Homes...................... B13 BHMDEX..................................... B14
Oak Highland Design - Decorating Den..................... B15 Space Cadets.............................. B16 Budget Blinds............................. B17 Cool Breeze................................ B18 The Bluffs at Greystone.............. B19 Holcombe Doors and Windows... B20 One Man & A Toolbox................ B20 Window Decor & Design............. B21 Skelton’s Heating and Cooling.... B21 Melissa Wise – RealtySouth......... B22 Door Restore.............................. B22 Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists..................... B23 Wild Birds Unlimited of Birmingham... B23 Mr. Handyman of Birmingham.... B24 Insurance Place Birmingham....... B24 Classic Iron Works....................... B25 Nature One Landscape Design.... B25
Gardner Landscaping 205-401-3347 • GardnerLandscapingLLC.com When it comes to landscaping, Alabama has it made: There’s a broad variety of trees and shrubs to choose from here. Now is the perfect time to try some out, according to the experts at Gardner Landscaping. “Fall is often considered the best time of year to plant new trees and shrubs,” Grant Gardner said. But how do you choose which ones? A lot of factors come into play when it comes to selecting the right plants for your landscaping, Grant said — factors like sun exposure, soil type, the slope of the landscape and your own preferences in color and type. “At Gardner Landscaping, we take pride in coming up with a plan that meets the needs of each customer and landscape,” he said. That attention to detail is one of the things that sets Gardner Landscaping apart
from many other landscapers. Another is that they have the personnel and resources to get your project completed quickly. “We will normally provide you with the pricing for your project within one day from when we meet with you,” Grant said. Gardner Landscaping specializes in trees and shrubs, and they can use trees and shrubs to create beautiful entertainment and privacy areas. Grant said, “More customers are looking to spend more time around their homes now. We have the best prices in town on large and small trees and shrubs to have great looking landscapes, privacy screens, shade and curb appeal. We also do a lot of clean ups, drainage and landscape borders, as well to get your property where it’s managed correctly. Please call us today, we have the vision to create these enjoyable areas. We would love to help you!”
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B2 • October 2021
280 Living
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Standard Air, Plumbing & Insulation 205-386-4001 • standardheatingandairconditioning.com Winter is quickly approaching, and, according to Standard Heating and Air President Tyler Kime, now is the time to make sure your home’s heating system is running efficiently and, most importantly, is safe. Standard Heating and Air specializes in residential heating, cooling, plumbing and generator service, repairs and replacements, and the team is available for you to give them a call to have your heating system checked out as the cold winter months approach. “[Customers should] schedule heating maintenance early, before the cold sets in, and have peace of mind that it’s ready for the winter,” Kime said. Kime said many times customers wait too long to cut on their heat, and, when they need heat, the unit doesn’t work. “We can check the heat at any time,” he said. “It’s best to do it before a cold snap comes in.” As many homeowners know, oftentimes when the heat is first turned on after being off for months and months, there could be an odor that emanates from the system. This is common, Kime said, as small dust particular are heated up during the heating process. But, Kime said, this odor should be temporary — and if not, you need to call a professional like the ones at Standard Heating and Air. “We are problem-solvers who stand behind our work,” Kime said. “We provide comfort to our customers, and we make homes more comfortable, reliable, and energy efficient. We keep the necessities running that we often take for granted.” Kime has been in the HVAC business since 2005, and, before him, his father had been in the business since 1969.
“It’s a great industry to be in, with topnotch people,” Kime said. “I love that we are able to serve others.” Service is a key component of Standard Heating and Air’s business. The company gives to many organizations, but most notably to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. Standard Heating and Air has donated more than $10,000 over the past few years to help this great local organization, Kime said. And service happens amongst team
members even while off the clock. “We recently had a technician help a stranded motorist on 280,” Kime said. “He hopped out and pushed the car across one of the busiest intersections in our city: 280 and 119. It was featured on Rick Karle’s Facebook group and is evident of the character of our team members.” It all goes back to Standard Heating and Air’s mission statement: to provide the best service experience to their customers. The key to good service?
“Listening, both to the customer and our team members,” Kime said. “Oftentimes the problem presents itself that way.” So, for customers who value their time and want a reliable, trustworthy company to take care of their needs, now is the time to call Standard Heating and Air. “Winter will be here before you know it,” he said. “Be prepared and not reactive to your heating system. Call a professional, knowledgeable and trustworthy company to take care of you.”
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280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B3
DSLD Land Management featuring Aquascapes and Desjoyaux Pools 205-437-1012 • dsldland.com DSLD Land Management is a familyowned, full-service landscape design and build company that has been bringing quality and value to central Alabama since 1983. The company’s work has been regularly featured in Southern Living and Builder+Architect magazine. The team at DSLD Land Management is ready to help you make your swimming pool dreams come true. They were recently selected as central Alabama’s exclusive dealer of Desjoyaux Pools. As the world’s largest swimming pool manufacturer, Desjoyaux has honed its system into a fast and efficient process to ensure their pools can deliver on your expectations. You can choose your pool’s size, shape and design. Our pools are built using recycled materials and a pipeless filtration system that use less energy than traditional pools. If you don’t like chlorine, choose a filter that doesn’t require harsh chemicals. Desjoyaux Pools install faster and more efficiently than other pools and are backed with unprecedented warranties. DSLD Land Management provides turnkey installation of your swimming pool, all requisite construction, as well as any landscape elements. “We offer a continuum of services ranging from consultation to planning to complete build out of any project large or small,” said David Sharp, owner and founder of DSLD
Land Management. Equipped with a full staff of licensed and degreed designers, talented horticulturists, masons, engineers and landscape architects, DSLD has one of the most experienced field service teams in the business. “We can dry out any foundation, whether home or office. We have worked with developers, city engineers, railroad companies, industries and even farmers to design solutions to water problems,” Sharp said. The DSLD team works to find the least intrusive and most economical way to solve your water problem, leaving the foundation and landscape dry and free of erosion. “We recognize that communication and timely response is important to our clients,” Sharp said, “and to that end, we employ a professional office staff to personally handle every call and inquiry.” DSLD invites you to visit their AquaScapes retail store featuring Desjoyaux Pools conveniently located across from Lee Branch Shopping Center on Highway 280 adjacent to Hanna’s Garden Shop. The store carries a wide variety of fountains, bird baths, feeders, chimes, fish, pond building kits, outdoor kitchens, outdoor lighting, pool supplies and much more. No matter your outdoor needs, DSLD Land Management, AquaScapes and Desjoyaux Pools stand ready to serve!
B4 • October 2021
280 Living
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Urban Home Market
U
rban Home Market loves our customers, and it shows. We can’t wait to provide them fresh inspiration with each new season as our showroom fills with everything they need to complete the space they call home. We stock a wide range of lighting, architectural pieces, gifts for that special someone, current home furnishings and complimentary in-store design services all under one roof. When you walk through the doors at Urban Home Market, you will be welcomed into a complete experience that ignites the senses while also receiving authentic, approachable customer service. We are a family-owned business, rooted in a passion for all things lovely. Therefore, we offer personalized service and unique products that big corporations and big-box retailers cannot. Being local also allows us to focus on the “family community” and serve each customer as a friend and neighbor. This knowledge of our customers creates the stage for wonderful collaboration, whether you need the perfect candle, an on-trend blouse or a complete design for your home or office. Urban Home Market’s core philosophy is guided by style, design and the passion to inspire imagination throughout the store. We have a dynamic, energetic team of designers and visual merchandisers who are responsible for every aspect of the store’s look and feel. Each vignette tells a story and sets the tone for beginning the journey down the path to your inspired space. Every season, our team of buyers
205-980-4663 • urbanhomemarket.com
travels across the country to attend major national furniture and accessory markets to find the latest products and design trends. Our inventory is driven by the needs of our customers and the forward thinking of upcoming trends. Our team of degreed interior designers at Urban Home Market are accomplished and dedicated. Each one has more than 20 years of experience in residential and commercial design. The designers work with clients to achieve a shared vision that fosters creativity and delivers results, exceeding expectations. Urban Home Market even has a Design-in-a-Day program where the
design team transforms any space in one day. As a local, family-owned business, we take pride in offering programs that support new homeowners, as well as other local designers and Realtors. Our talented team can make your home a space where you love spending time. Supporting or local community is a large part of Urban Home Market. We give back through donations to local nonprofit organizations and outreach programs. It’s also important for us to support the creative spirit in the area by partnering with local artisans. We showcase many local artists by offering their pottery, paintings and much more, throughout the store. Our Marketplace
also offers specialty boutique items such as clothing, accessories and special gifts. We carry many items made from reclaimed and recycled materials adding a rich, collected look when placed in your space. To learn more about the emerging trends, give the store a call, or connect with us via Facebook and Instagram. Our social media posts are a great place to get to know us, see what’s in the showroom or check out unique style tips for our customers on the go. Better yet, stop in for inspiration. We are located at 1001 Doug Baker Blvd. in The Village at Lee Branch. We look forward to calling you friend.
280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B5
B6 • October 2021
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
280 Living
Guin Service 205-595-4846 • guinservice.com What’s in a name? It’s how people identify you and how you identify yourself; it’s who you are. We are Guin Service. Not Guin Plumbing or Guin Air Conditioning, but Guin Service. The Guin in our name identifies us as a family business — a business that has been in the same family for more than 60 years. Service identifies what we do; we provide service. We are a service business, and customer service is — and always has been — our number one priority. When a homeowner or business owner calls Guin Service, they expect us to be able to fix their problem. But what they might not expect is the quality of service we will deliver. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile to provide the best experience possible. When people call Guin, they are typically having a bad day. Something has likely broken, and more times than not, that item has broken unexpectedly. What we try to do is turn that negative into a positive. Running a business like ours is a little bit of a Catch 22. Things breaking keeps us in business, but we’re well aware of the fact that our being at someone’s home or business is an inconvenience at the very least. We always try to keep that fact top of mind. We get it — we don’t like to see things break in our own homes either, but it’s inevitable that it will eventually happen. When the inevitable happens, we hope to be your first call. Our goal is to make lifelong repeat customers, and 90% of our business comes from repeat customers. We take pride in that number. But not only is the majority of our business repeat business, the majority of our new business comes from referrals. A referral is the
greatest compliment a service business can receive, and we value every referral we get. With so much competition and information out there today, it’s often difficult to know who to trust when it comes to fixing mechanical issues in your home or business. Whenever I meet with advertisers about a new ad or commercial, I’m always trying to come up with something to show the public that we are
a trustworthy business. But how can you portray trust in a print ad or a 30-second commercial? It’s not easy. When I’m explaining our business offerings to prospective new clients, I always also mention our longevity, our online reviews and our large percentage of repeat business. Birmingham is still a small town. If Guin was out there taking advantage of
people, the word would have gotten out. We haven’t stayed in business since 1958 by accident. That isn’t to say we don’t make mistakes; we’re human, too. But when we do make a mistake, we own up to it and always make it right. So, if that sounds good to you, I hope the next time you are in need of plumbing, air conditioning or generator service, you will give us a chance to earn your business.
280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B7
Brewer Roofing and Construction 205-365-7014 • brewerroofingconstruction.pro The team at Brewer Roofing and Construction knows that quality roofing affects a home’s value. The management makes it their job to stay abreast of the best roofing techniques, materials and benefits. Their crews have been installing and repairing roofs for more than 20 years, becoming one of Birmingham’s premier home contractors. As a homeowner, your roof is likely not something you think about every day — at least until something goes wrong. The team at Brewer Roofing and Construction, however, thinks about roofs incessantly. Owner Jeff Brewer has generously agreed to share his insight on facts you might not know about your roof. 1. Your roof affects your homes energy efficiency. The biggest way a new roof can save you money stems from energy efficiency. Everything from the material used on your roof to the technique used to install it can help you cut down on energy costs every single month. Older roofs are built using outdated materials and techniques, making them less energy efficient and placing a greater strain on your home’s heating and cooling system. During the warmer months of the year — especially in Alabama, where temperatures soar during the summer months — the reflective material of your roof’s shingles can help keep your home cool. During the fall and winter, proper insulation keeps the heat inside your home effectively, which can cut your energy costs substantially. 2. Insurance sometimes covers the cost of a new roof. Brewer Roofing and Construction is diligent about keeping the costs of their
services as low as possible for their clients. “A lot of times, insurance companies may leave things out,” Brewer said. “We do an audit with every new job to make sure that our clients are getting what they pay for in their insurance premiums every month.” 3. A new roof can increase the resale value of your home. Although the state of your roof isn’t always the first thing on your mind, when it comes time to sell your home, buyers are sure to
notice it. A new roof not only increases the value of your home, but also its curb appeal. 4. There are ways to tell if you need a new roof. Brewer said there are telltale signs that you might need a new roof, including hailstone marks or creased shingles. Brewer Roofing and Construction offers free roof inspections to see if you might need a new roof and, if a new roof is installed, they will make sure the roof has the best ventilation possible so it will
last as long as it can. A new roof can be installed in as little as one to two days. From new construction, roofing, siding, gutters, pools, outdoor kitchens, etc., you can always expect quality work from the team at Brewer Roofing and Construction. They always pride themselves on quality customer service. Their business is one built on referrals, and they see a satisfied customer as the best business strategy of all. “We want to keep everybody happy, and we want to offer great customer service from beginning to end,” Brewer said.
B8 • October 2021
280 Living
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Alabama Mold & Mildew Solutions 205-252-9506 • alabamamold.com Lee Ramey — or, as he is colloquially known, “The Mildude” — has spent 30 years inside countless homes around Birmingham that have suffered because of the underlying problems of a concrete basement or a dirt crawlspace. He wants to get frank about unhealthy crawl spaces, symptoms of which include occupants physically feeling or seeing high humidity, buckling floors, cracking foundations, musty smells, mold inside wall cavities, attic moisture or mold, allergies and respiratory illnesses. “No matter what season it is, wet, nasty crawlspaces can wreak havoc on your home and the health of your family,” Ramey said. Ramey said crawlspaces are not intended to be part of the breathing environment, but, because of the stack effect, air travels from the bottom of your home to the top — like an unfinished basement or crawlspace becoming part of your living space. He points out that studies have shown that 25% to 50% of the air we breathe on the first floor of our home comes from the basement or crawlspace. “This means all levels can be affected by humid air and pollutants,” Ramey said. “High relative humidity causes rot, mold and energy loss, and attracts pests.” Damp air takes more energy to cool in the summer and more energy to heat in the winter, he said, causing a heavier load on your heating and cooling system and increased energy bills. Also, if your unit is inside the crawlspace, depressurization forces bad air upward into the home. So where does the moisture come from that is haunting your basement or crawlspace? The moisture comes
from one or all of five sources: Humid air; groundwater seepage evaporating; concrete walls and floor emitting moisture; dewpoint from air ducts; or water events occurring in the home or pipe leaks from within the house. “This moisture can drift into your home by the way of vapor,” Ramey said. “This is caused by the stack effect. The organic material that your house is made of sucks up the moisture and causes mold to grow
inside your wall cavities.” But “The Mildude” is here to help. He and his team are available for a call anytime to talk further about an interior mold inspection for your home or indoor air testing. “Since we have been in the rainy season, now is the best time to check the health of your crawl space or basement,” Ramey said. To show how serious he and his team are about the health of your home and the
health of your family, Ramey is offering a special 12-point crawlspace evaluation and healthy home questionnaire free of charge until Dec. 30, 2021, which is normally a $139 value. To take advantage of this offer, simply use the code HG_2021, Ramey said. “I have spent years perfecting a healthy way of removing mold from crawlspaces and homes, along with water management solutions to prevent mold,” he said.
KNOW THE FACTS
• The home is only as healthy as the space below it. • Moisture rises up into the house.
Moisture causes mold. The stack effect can even affect the attic. • Unhealthy crawlspace = unhealthy air inside • The long-term effects apply to our physical health as well as the health of the structure. • You may not notice there is a problem until considerable damage has already occurred. • Energy cost are higher in a wet crawlspace
205-252-9506 | alabamamold.com
280Living.com
October 2021 • B9
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CARPET WAREHOUSE S 25 YEAR STRONG!
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Carpet Warehouse Galleria 205-989-5678 • carpetwhse.com Carpet Warehouse has served the Birmingham area for over 25 years. Locally owned and operated by Tim and Tracy Lanier, Carpet Warehouse is conveniently located on Highway 150 in Hoover across from CarMax and offers a wide selection of flooring from traditional to contemporary to fit every taste and need. Whether you are looking for carpet for your home or other types of flooring, including hardwoods, laminate, vinyl, LVT or LVP, it has something for everyone. It also offers inhome design services, free home consultations and free estimates. There are also trade discounts for contractors and do-it-yourself customers all at the guaranteed lowest prices. Carpet Warehouse prides itself on offering customers the best quality flooring at the lowest prices. “Our super-low overhead enables us to truly sell for less,” Tim Lanier said. “Our crews are all time-proven craftsmen.” Carpet Warehouse offers top brands like CORTEC, Engineered Floors, DreamWeaver, Shaw, Mohawk, Masland, Armstrong, Bruce and Mannington, just to name a few. “There’s really too many to mention. If it’s flooring, we have it,” Lanier said. Some of its most popular types of
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flooring are luxury vinyl tile and planks. The luxury vinyl planks are perfect for families with children and pets. “They look like hardwood or tile, but they are waterproof and pet-proof,” Lanier said. “They are also available in a floating construction, which can go right over the top of most existing hard surface flooring minimizing demolition and costs”. The Laniers enjoy sharing their high level of expertise with customers. “For over 25 years, our family has served the Over the Mountain area. We are a company you can trust. The secret to our success is our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction at the lowest prices. You don’t survive for 25 years unless you are doing things right,” he said.
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2711 HWY 150, Hoover • 205-989-5678 • carpetwhse.com *Basic labor only on free installation. **Same exact product with written veritiable proof. Must present coupon at time of purchase. ***Sales tax paid on installed items only. Not valid with any other offer or prior sales. Unless otherwise specified, all prices are for materials only. We cannot be held liable for typographical errors, manufacturer’s changes or misprints.
B10 • October 2021
280 Living
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware 205-980-7221 • acehardware.com We will blink and once again Christmas will be here. With the colder winter months, we spend more time indoors, and many of us find ourselves wanting to spruce up our space for the holidays and for any guests we might be hosting. Ken Smith of Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware has a few easy tips to share — and, at his store, just the right products to help you brighten up your home in time for Santa. 1: Paint your kitchen As the family gathers and meals are prepared in the kitchen — often the heart of the home — consider painting your kitchen and giving it a refresh. Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware has paint lines like Benjamin Moore, Magnolia by Joanna Gaines and Annie Sloan. Smith said the Annie Sloan look is especially popular for those who like a distressed look, as it is chalk paint. 2: Paint your living room Would your Christmas tree and all of your Christmas décor look better with a new coat of paint in the living room? Well, you’re in luck — not only does Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware have best-in-class paints, but they also have best-in-class paint brushes to purchase. “You don’t want to use a cheap brush when you’re buying an expensive gallon tank,” Smith said. “It gives you a better finish [if you have] a better brush and a better roller. It just makes your job go better, and it is something that you can use over and over again.” 3: Change your lightbulbs Much simpler than painting a room in your house is changing your lightbulbs, which can really make a big difference. Today’s lightbulbs are mostly LED, Smith
said, which means they last longer. “Nowadays, everything uses less energy but are brighter,” he said. 4: Declutter your storage space Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware offers a multitude of home organizing products, including shelving and peg boards for your storage spaces. Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware also has in stock everything
you’ll need to assemble these shelves and hammer in these peg boards — a one-stop shop for all of your home needs. “Most stuff is easy to assemble,” Smith said. “Everything probably requires either a screwdriver or a drill.” 5: Deep clean your house Nothing says “Guests are coming for the holidays” like a good, old-fashioned rush
to deep clean your home. Not to worry, though, Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware has every cleaning product you could possibly need on its shelves so you can get your home squeaky clean for the holidays. Stop by at 300 Carlow Lane, Suite 108, and see Ken Smith for any of the products listed in this article. He can help you spruce up your home like new as you spend more and more time indoors.
Let’s get started! The best time to start your paint project is now. Come in today to Let’s Get Started! findproject your new favorite The best time to start your paint is now. Come in today to find your new favorite room room color.color.
Let’s Get Started! The best time to start your paint project is now. Come in today to find your new favorite room color.
Shop your favorite Benjamin Moore® co
Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware 300 Carlow Ln Ste 108 Birmingham, AL 35242 (205) 980-7221 | Web
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Dunnavant Valley Ace Hardware 300 Carlow Ln Ste 108 Birmingham, AL 35242 (205) 980-7221 | Web
©2019 Benjamin Moore & Co. Aura, ben, Benjamin Moore, Color Lock, Gennex, Regal, and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co. All other marks are the property of their respective owner. 10/19
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300 Carlow Ln Ste 108, Birmingham, AL 35242 Shop your favorite (located on Hwy 41 next to Piggly Wiggly) Benjamin Moore® colors. (205) 980-7221 | Open 7 Days a Week ©2019 Benjamin Moore & Co. Aura, ben, Benjamin Moore, Color Lock, Gennex, Regal, and the triangle “M” symbol are registered trademarks licensed to Benjamin Moore & Co. All other marks are the property of their respective owner. 10/19
280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B11
Pam Grant, Ted Gregg and Daniel Worthington – RE/MAX Southern Homes Pam Grant: 205-966-6507 • Ted Gregg: 205-966-2613 • Daniel Worthington: 205-601-6689 • southoakbirmingham.com Imagine living amidst a landscape of meadows, lakes, trees, and mountains where a future homestead will reside in the valleys of south Birmingham. Living in South Oak will make this vision a reality. South Oak is a new inprogress development nestled in Dunnavant Valley that was established and discovered in 1989. It was not until 2020 that this gem of a property began to take shape by developers. The team listing this area consists of Pam Grant, Ted Gregg and Daniel Worthington with RE/MAX Southern Homes. The 500-acre development started in June 2020, and most of the lots from Phase One have already been sold or are under contract. Phase Two, which will continue to develop the 300 acres of lots, will be available for you to reserve by the 1st of November. Phase Three is further in the future, but will include an additional lake to accommodate the community. Each property is an estate size, each at least three acres and up to 10 acres with underground utilities. There will be approximately 65 properties in the community. While the houses under construction follow an architectural standard that
protects the ambiance of the development, the lots are so large that homeowners are able to have community living and still add their own unique touches. Once construction is complete, picture homeowners heading
down Highway 41 from 280, away from the traffic and into the valleys of Birmingham. When arriving at South Oak, they are greeted by an elegant 8’ front gate and head down the drive, pass horses grazing on the grass
surrounding the road, and gaze upon Oak Mountain defining the back of the property. Instead of tight suburban lots, there is a seven-acre lake, a boathouse, a horse barn, and houses that are partially hidden
from view behind beautifully groomed landscaping. The property makes it seem as though you aren’t in Birmingham anymore — yet you still live minutes away from shopping, dining, and local convenience stores. There are nature trails around the 200+ acre mountain ridge common area. It includes a large lake where residents can swim or sun on the deck. The boathouse offers residents exclusive use of two boats and kayaks that they can use to go fishing or enjoy the water. At the lake year-round, a kitchenette, barbecue grill and furnished patio are available for cookouts and picnics. The team: Pam, Ted and Daniel enjoy meeting all of their clients who soon become like family after showing them around South Oak. They are very experienced in all types of real estate, and desire to represent the potential lifestyle this development has to offer. Pam, Ted and Daniel are a text, call, or email a way to sign you up for your dream property for generations to come. South Oak was designed for making memories. The community is also open every Sunday from 2-4 p.m. Visit southoakbirmingham.com for more information, or call the team today!
Lifestyle has never been so well addressed
Pam Grant Ted Gregg Daniel Worthington 205-966-6507 205-966-2613 205-601-6689
Enjoy Life in Dunnavant Valley!
B12 • October 2021
280 Living
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Classic Home Mortgage Inc. 205-444-5866 • fundinghomedreams.com For more than a decade, Erin Tatum and her team at Classic Home Mortgage Inc. have used their combined experience and industry knowledge to give future homeowners a stress-free experience. Although the firm has been established for a little over 11 years, Tatum has been in the business of helping others secure the funds for their perfect home since 1995. She started as a receptionist in a mortgage firm and quickly became a specialist in mortgage lending. The extensive knowledge she gained through her years as a loan processor shines through in the way that she streamlines the process to keep each closing on schedule and mistakes minimal. “With decades of combined experience in the mortgage industry, we know how to make your home dreams happen,” Tatum said. The work isn’t always easy, but if you were to ask Tatum what she does for a living, she would tell you that she spends each day “funding home dreams,” and that makes it all worth it. According to Tatum, when someone’s dream home is on the line, they need to be able to trust everyone involved. Tatum and her staff serve their clients with integrity and always keep their best interest at heart. At Classic Home Mortgage Inc., “Customer service is our top priority, whether it’s a new mortgage or a refinance,” Tatum said. She genuinely cares about her clients and understands the stress that can come with purchasing or refinancing a home. She works hard to keep her clients informed of everything involved with consistent updates. When asked if there are any tricks of
the trade she has picked up over the years, Tatum said, “It’s not a trick. It’s pretty easy: Communication and honesty through the entire loan process.” She even takes things a step further, educating her clients about the mortgage process so that they have an understanding of what is happening at each stage. According to one homebuyer, “The staff [at Classic Home Mortgage Inc.] made everything incredibly easy and smooth.
They always got back to you in a timely manner if you needed anything, and when I didn’t understand something, they explained it multiple times. They were very patient and kind.” It’s important for homeowners to know that interest rates are still historically low, she said. Now is not the time to wait. “With this market you’ve got to have a very, very strong preapproval, which means you have to go ahead and get that
process out of the way. Then, when you go to make your offer, you’ve got a strong offer.” Her staff can also help homeowners who are interested in refinancing but may not be sure if they qualify. They are even available for questions you might have about your current home mortgage. No matter what your mortgage concerns are, “We will put your worries to rest. That, we can assure you.”
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1904 Indian Lake Drive Birmingham, AL 35244 205-444-5866 fundinghomedreams.com
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280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B13
Terry Crutchfield, RE/MAX Southern Homes 205-873-3205 • birminghampropertiesforsale.com Terry Crutchfield got into real estate because she saw a need — a need for agents who were open, honest and operated with high integrity in the real estate field and had a desire to help others with their most important financial decisions of their life. So that’s exactly what she strives to be. Not only that, she uses a highly effective, fine-tuned process. “We differentiate ourselves by offering a full range of services, not just ‘post and pray’ — meaning we don’t stick a sign in the yard and pray your house sells,” Crutchfield said. “We have a proven marketing plan and are available for our clients.” That plan includes home valuation, staging and ideas and tips on getting your house market ready. If needed, they can provide you with lists of contractors. They also use creative marketing, various forms of advertising (including social media) and strong negotiating to obtain top dollar for your home. With interest rates still low and the price of lumber elevated, many people are hesitating to build right now. Mortgage lenders are seeing a huge increase in loan applications, and people are getting approved, but finding a house is the problem. Bottom line, inventory needs to sell. “For a seller, our team has detailed exclusive knowledge of the market to price your home aggressively and correctly, and we know how to position your home to its full potential for maximum profit,” Crutchfield said. “We know what buyers are looking for.”
Terry Crutchfield, Erin Metzger and Courtney Turner.
Crutchfield said if you are sitting on the fence about listing your house for sale, you should act quickly and take advantage of this red-hot seller’s market. She said January started out like a normal springtime market, with sellers naming their price and actually getting it. Now, we are still seeing low inventory and a huge demand for houses into the fall. We are experiencing a seller’s boom like never before. Her company sells all price points, from empty-nesters wanting to sell a large home and move to a smaller space with less maintenance, to those who want to upgrade to their dream home. She’s able
to use that same market knowledge and negotiating skill to help buyers, too. One of Crutchfield’s favorite stories from her career involves a time she was able to help both at the same time. “I was once working with some clients, a sweet older couple who had a few health issues,” Crutchfield said. “We were getting ready to close on their house, and they had not been able to get all of their things moved. They were panicked and basically did not have any help.” In that transaction, she was helping the buyers, too, and through a combined effort between her and the buyers, they were able to help the sellers move out of the house.
Crutchfield loves helping in any way she can — that’s why she got involved in real estate in the first place. “I want to treat all clients with the same respect and dignity that I would expect to be treated myself,” she said. And her team believes in giving back to the community. They hold coat drives and food drives, serve and participate in neighborhood events and donate to local charities, such as Alabama Childhood Food Solutions. Through their 2019 and 2020 coat drives, they were able to provide approximately 300 winter items — coats, jackets, scarves — to Josie’s Place, Jimmy Hale Mission and The Lovelady Center.
Recommended for a Reason
Dɢ &ʢXWɭɓՋɰOɍ &ʝʛSʋʜɨ Ʉɏ ʘQʝɦ ʃȱɏ ʏɔՔʑȾʑQȪɏ Lɡ ʖɚ ʃȱɏ ȫHWʋɵOɡ ʋQɍ Ʉɏ Pɪȴɏ ʃȱɏ ʏɔՔʑȾʑQȪɏ
Courtney Turner 205.260.5929
Terry Crutch eld 205.873.3205
Erin Metzger 205.229.1290
B14 • October 2021
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
280 Living
BHMDEX 205-516-3105 • bhmdex.com If there’s one piece of information Blake Bassham of BHMDEX wants you to know, it’s this: First of all, quality and service are paramount to the company. But he also wants to drive home this point when it comes to your outdoor improvement projects: Plan your projects early. “We have a lot of people who will contact us in April or May wanting a new deck or a big project in the summer,” he said. “We have to push them to the fall or the winter because we get so backed up. The earlier the planning, the better.” Bassham said before the pandemic, the value of a home was more often than not found in the kitchen or the master bedroom. But now, with COVID-19 still raging on and people being at their homes more than ever, people are spending much more time in their outdoor spaces. “People are pretty much saying, ‘Hey, we’re not going to travel anymore. We’re basically going to build a resort in our backyard,’” Bassham said. “We have been involved in projects where people are putting in pools, and we will build a large cabana, kitchen or other structure that will give them that resort feel.” Backed by their slogan “Enjoy Your Life Outdoors,” BHMDEX specializes in any building project outdoors, specifically features like decks, patios and screened porches. Bassham said outdoor kitchens are also becoming a massive trend, including unique touches like outdoor pizza ovens and outdoor Hibachi grills. “That’s a big feature if you have the space and the type of yard people want to be out in,” he said. Pools are surging back into popularity,
as are firepits with a pergola up over it, Bassham said. “Those can be as elaborate as you want them to be and as elaborate as your wallet will allow you,” he said. There are so many possibilities for your outdoor space, and BHMDEX can talk you through all of them. Bassham will personally come out to your house and talk about your vision for your space. Then, he’ll work up some design concepts
and renderings and come to a consensus on the final design with you. “We really try to cater the design to fit the client,” Bassham said. “We don’t have just a standard cookie-cutter deck or porch or whatever.” Bassham will then give you an estimate and get to work. But it doesn’t happen overnight, he said — all quality projects, especially ones with as much attention to detail and excellence as those done by
BHMDEX, take time to execute. “If there was anything I wanted to leave with the customer, it’s that you can’t start too early,” Bassham said. “It’s never too early to contact us to start your planning.” Bassham and BHMDEX are committed to providing the best in class, top-notch service every single time. “Our goal is to give our clients the best possible project to fit their family and to enjoy their life outdoors,” he said.
280Living.com
October 2021 • B15
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Oak Highland Design - Decorating Den 205-718-7341 • aspraberry@decoratingden.com • oakhighland.decoratingden.com Whether you are looking to update one room in your home or your entire home’s design, Angelia Spraberry of Oak Highland Design is here to help in that process. Spraberry’s love of interior design blossomed in the late 1980s, when she worked as a furniture buyer for a large hospital and university in Birmingham. Her mentor saw her talent and encouraged her to pursue an interior design degree, which she did, and thereafter worked for several years as a buyer and a designer. For several years, Spraberry turned the focus of her talents to her own home, working solely as a full-time mother, and she never gave up her passion for design. Over the years, she transformed every home she purchased with her family into a beautiful haven from the busy world. With a family of four, she was challenged to make her home both welcoming and functional. After many years working as a full-time mother, Spraberry and her husband are now empty-nesters. They’ve returned to Birmingham where it all began and Spraberry is now able to pick up where she left off, adding all the things she’s learned from designing her own home to the service she now provides her clients. “Like many of my friends here, I joined a couple of women’s groups in the neighborhood, and when they found out that I have a decorating and design background, they would ask me ‘Well, what do you think about this color? What do you think I could do with my kitchen? And what do you think about a different arrangement for my living room?’’’ she said. “And, you know, I’m so happy to help them out and talk through their ideas. It really started the ball rolling for me to take a risk with owning my own business
— ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to find my passion again and get back into interior design?’” Her goal through her business is to make interior design as stress-free as possible for her clients, from the initial consultation all the way through the big reveal. Oak Highland Design works with more than 100 top manufacturers to bring clients the absolute best in quality and selection.
“Helping people find joy in their home, and to love where they live, and create a space that reflects who they are — that is what this is all about for me,” Spraberry said. “I love what I do. I don’t consider it a job.” If you have a vision for your home you wish to bring to completion, Spraberry is passionately committed to making it happen. She knows from experience that
pulling the perfect image of your home from your mind and actualizing it in the real world is a tough task. “That’s why you hire a designer,” she said. “You’ve got this vision in your head, but you don’t always know the right steps to take to get it from your thoughts to reality. And that’s what I love doing: I help you take your vision and bring it to completion.”
The art of puuing it aa together We listen to your challenges and implement a design plan just for you. Contact us to book a complimentary in-home consultation today.
659-207-0735 • oakhighland.decoratingden.com • aspraberry@decoratingden.com Lighting & Accessories, Window Treatments, Area Rugs, Fine & Custom Furnishings, Wall Coverings, Bedding
B16 • October 2021
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
280 Living
Space Cadets 205-326-7025 • info@spacecadetsorg.com • spacecadetsorg.com Whether you live in a 750-square-foot apartment or a sprawling manor, the space you inhabit will feel inefficient without proper storage and organization. This is something that Kim McBrayer, the owner of Space Cadets and a selfdescribed “recovering messy,” knows all too well. After 20 years in the organization and custom-closet business, McBrayer has mastered the art of tidying up and she loves sharing tips with her clients. “One of the unique things about Space Cadets is that we are not just a custom-closet company; we’re also an organization company and a retail store,” McBrayer said. This gives her clients the ability to DIY as much of the organization process as they want and call in the professionals whenever necessary. According to McBrayer, if you’re undertaking the task of organizing your home yourself, the first step to clutter recovery is an assessment. Before you run out and purchase bins, baskets or an entire closet system, you should ask yourself three questions: How am I using this space? What’s my vision for this space? What do I need to store in this space? The Space Cadets’ team starts each project with a space walk. They talk through these questions with you, take measurements and make an inventory of everything you need to store. The next step is redesigning the area. The design of your organization system should follow the flow of your routine. Tailoring your organization system to your routine makes it easier to give each item a home and store them there each time. For example,
when you organize your kitchen space, storing frequently used dishes near the dishwasher can save you time during clean-up. Knowing exactly where things are can help you save money as well. McBrayer remembers working with one client who had five bottles of ketchup simply because she couldn’t see that she already had the item when she made her grocery list. “Our advantage is that we are designers who come from an organizing standpoint; we’re not just designing a closet,” McBrayer said.“Design is the most important element for us. We can find something for every budget, for every style, for every unique situation.” You can use the measurements taken during your space walk to choose from Space Cadets’ robust line of organization solutions. Their retail store has everything from easy-to-assemble stackable bins to full closet systems they’ll create a personalized SpacePlan. For some spaces, a well thought out plan is all you need to get started. For bigger projects, you may need help with implementation as well. Whether you are organizing your kitchen, closet, pantry or garage, Space Cadets’ install and organize can handle as much or as little of the implementations you like. They can remove the old system, prep and paint your walls, install a new closet tailored to your needs and, finally, organize your entire inventory in a way that suits you and your family’s routine. For more tips or to kick off your fall organization, stop by the retail store or give Space Cadets a call.
280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B17
Budget Blinds 205-824-3300 • budgetblinds.com/birmingham Need some new window coverings this fall? Steve Thackerson is ready to help you have beautiful window blinds, shutters and solar shades that you can control from anywhere. They’re easy to use and easy to afford, he said. “Motorization is a big thing now. There are ways you can tie motorized window coverings into your home’s automation system,” said Thackerson, owner of Budget Blinds of Birmingham. With a touch of your phone — even when you’re not home — you can raise or lower your window coverings, or you can tell Alexa to do it for you. Your Budget Blinds can also open or close at a pre- selected time of day or night. “We can usually tie our product into any system you might have,” Thackerson said. “We take pride in providing style and service for every budget.” At Budget Blinds — your local window covering expert — they take the time to understand you and your unique needs to deliver the best custom window covering solution designed for the way you live. They do any kind of custom window covering. As far as blinds go, they offer wood and faux wood, aluminum, vinyl, composite and vertical blinds or vertical blind alternatives. They also offer shades of all kinds: roller, Roman, cellular, bamboo, woven wood, pleated, sheer,
graphic and solar. And they can get your interior and exterior plantation shutter needs taken care of with wood, café or composite.
You can see a gallery of recent projects on their website to get a feel for what they can do for your home or office. “We install them, so anything
that’s purchased from us, we’ll custom install them and professionally install them,” Thackerson said. “We don’t subcontract that out. We control
everything from setting up the appointment to the final installation.” They also have better warranties than their competitors, he said. “Our manufacturers may also sell to our competitors, but they don’t give them the same warranties they give us. That sets us apart. We get the same products but better pricing and better warranties.” That comes with their national presence and the long relationships he and his wife have built in their more than 30 years in the business. He also has two salesmen with decades of experience. “They are veteran employees who have been with me a long time,” Thackerson said. The highly trained design consultants at Budget Blinds put their heart and soul into creating the perfect answer to your window fashion needs. They even bring their entire showroom to you with their free in-home design consultation. As a locally owned business, they’re also focused on supporting the community. Caring and giving back are in their DNA. “Our business is here in the Vestavia community, and we live here as well,” Thackerson said. Budget Blinds offers in-home consultations to help their clients choose the best window covering for their home. To learn more, call them or go to their website today.
Schedule your FREE in-home consultation today! 2130 Columbiana Road, Vestavia AL 35216 (Next to Charter Communications)
BUDGET BLINDS OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF ENERGY-SAVING WINDOW TREATMENTS. 30% OFF SELECTED SIGNATURE SERIES WINDOW TREATMENTS, EXCLUDING PLANTATION SHUTTERS.
205-824-3300 | BudgetBlinds.com
B18 • October 2021
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
280 Living
Cool Breeze 205-444-3155 • coolbreezeinc.com Cool Breeze Inc. has been in operation for 12 years and boasts 40 years’ worth of experience between the team that oversees its daily operations. At Cool Breeze, everything they do circles back to their tagline: “If it doesn’t save money, it doesn’t make sense.” The scope of work Cool Breeze undertakes is vast, but they are experts in all things HVAC, from furnaces to thermostats to air conditioning to heating service and repair, as well as new system installation. Court VanSyoc, owner of Cool Breeze, was generous enough to share some of his tips for improving your home’s energy costs. No. 1: Make sure your furnace is up to date. If you’re uncomfortable with the temperature in your home, that could be a sign that something is amiss, but trouble can still be brewing even if you’re not uncomfortable. If your energy bill is through the roof, it is time to call Cool Breeze for its no-charge consultation to check your furnace. No. 2: Make sure your home is properly insulated. If you can see the wood joists in your attic, your home may not be as well insulated as it could be. VanSyoc suggests caulking the cracks around your window to help with your insulation as well — or just give Cool Breeze a call. No. 3: Invest in a programmable smart thermostat. You can save energy costs when your smart thermostat learns your habits and can turn down air conditioning or heat
when you are away and adjust when you are due home to maximize comfort. Cool Breeze can help install these in your home. No. 4: Choose an HVAC company — like Cool Breeze — that deeply cares about its customers. Customer service is paramount at Cool Breeze, and saving customers money isn’t just a tagline, it’s a way of doing business every day. “We want you to save money,” VanSyoc said. “Whenever we install air conditioners
and furnaces, we want to install them efficiently. We’re going to save you money, and it’s going to last for a long time.” Nothing matters more than a happy customer, he said. “There’s no other company out there that can give the customer service we give,” VanSyoc said. “Long story short, my main goal is to make sure that my customer is happy. We’re not going to be perfect every time. But if we mess up, we’re going to fix it, we’re going to make sure that everything is done properly.”
VanSyoc, who not only practices his work but also teaches it as well, is adamant that Cool Breeze’s work is done exactly the way it’s supposed to be done, every time. “Our philosophy is to do it right and do it right the first time,” he said. “If our customer has an issue, we step up to the plate and take care of that issue, no questions asked, it does not matter. Take care of it. I want a happy customer. At the end of the day, the money doesn’t matter. It’s about the happy customer. That’s how we run our business.”
280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B19
The Bluffs at Greystone 205-379-0322 • phoenixsrliving.com The Bluffs at Greystone provides premiere senior living options including independent living, assisted living and memory care in a state-of-the-art community with luxury-style accommodations. Our mission is to help every resident live life to the fullest. Our community cultivates a sense of purposeful living tailored to each resident’s unique gifts, life experience and interests. Located at 6328 Farley Lane, The Bluffs at Greystone carefully designs its Live, Love, Learn programs and calendar of events to be deeply rooted in the National Wellness Institute’s Six Dimensions of Wellness: physical, cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual and occupational (for a sense of purpose). As defined by the National Wellness Institute, “Wellness is an active process through which people become aware
of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.” By implementing all six dimensions of wellness in everyday living, The Bluffs at Greystone can better help residents build a holistic sense of wellness and fulfillment. Offering a choice of apartments, with various size options, residents enjoy the privacy of individual homes and the convenient support of a dedicated staff that is committed to serving others. Our team of professionals fully understands and caters to each resident’s unique physical, social and emotional preferences through personalized service. Located in the scenic Greystone community, the Phoenix Senior Living community is just minutes away from Grandview Medical Center, Brookwood freestanding ER, Lee Branch shopping center and popular restaurants.
And that’s just the beginning. Indoors you’ll find everything you could want for an active, well-balanced life. This includes an indoor heated pool, bistro, pub, fitness center, yoga studio, library, theatre, full-service salon, massage/spa outside are walking trails, pickleball court and a bocce ball court. As for an evening in, residents can venture independently, as a couple or with a large party to savor gourmet dining. The Bluffs at Greystone makes the most of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Choice meats, fresh seasonings and nutritious garden vegetables are served with culinary precision at The Bluffs at Greystone. The restaurant-style dining in a setting that promotes social wellness includes a chef who accommodates modified or restricted meal plans for dietary needs. Deliciously wholesome meals and on-trend table settings create a grand
culinary treat from morning until night. Afterward, residents can take in a movie at the theatre, followed by a stop at the pub for a night cap. There’s always something to do. With so many activities at arm’s reach, it’s no wonder. There are plenty of opportunities for bridge games, poker games and literary events. A spacious outdoor grilling area features a beautiful flagstone design with a gorgeous fireplace, setting off the space for cozy fall evenings. Have grandchildren? There’s even a designated playground for them, too. One visit to The Bluffs at Greystone will reveal just how much its team of professionals understand that the most basic human desire is to be loved. Staff members go beyond what is considered ordinary, offering extraordinary personal care.
B20 • October 2021
280 Living
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Holcombe Doors and Windows
One Man & A Toolbox
205-509-4547 • holcombedoorandwindow.com
205-823-2111 • oneman-toolbox.com
According to Tammy Holcombe of Holcombe Doors and Windows, fall is a great time to make sure your windows and doors are airtight from the cold air set to seep in this winter. She and her team offer energy efficient products that can help. Service is paramount for the company, as is providing the best quality products for their customers, all in an effort to make every home they supply more beautiful. “All windows are not the same,” Holcombe said. “There are cheap ones and better quality ones. Aluminum clad and fiberglass are longer lasting, more durable to the elements and are a heavier, higher quality product. “When we sell and/or install our products, we make sure the homeowner or commercial company is getting the very best products we offer with the very
best installation,” Holcombe said. “We are very passionate about the quality of products and the correct installation of the products we sell.” Holcombe Doors and Windows offers millwork, doors, windows, trim and door hardware. They also offer a complete installation, remove old, worn or out-ofdate products and conduct a complete installation of new products including painting and staining. Holcombe encourages customers to stop by their new, fully stocked showroom to see what they have to offer. “Your home is your special place, and you want it warm and comfortable and safe,” Holcombe said. “The products we sell and install are of great quality and made to last long so that you can feel, see, and enjoy the beauty of them for years to come.”
Doors - Windows - Millwork
Showroom Open Off HWY. 280
Since 1997, One Man & a Toolbox has been helping people with a variety of home improvement projects and repairs. “The company was started to fill a void in the market to provide professional contracting services for jobs too small for a general contractor to do. In many cases, small handyman-type projects are done by unskilled, unlicensed, uninsured people working out of their trucks going from job to job — many times not completing jobs as they go, or not standing behind jobs after they are complete,” owner Jay Moss said. One Man & a Toolbox is insured and bonded to further protect customers. “We offer carpentry, painting, minor plumbing, electrical, pressure washing, roof and gutter repair, appliance installation, drywall repair, door and
window repair and more,” he said. Fall is the perfect time to take care of home maintenance issues. One Man & a Toolbox’s affordable hourly rates can fit any budget. “We are an over 20-year-old company,” Moss said. “We have invested in technology and skill enhancement of our technicians to ensure jobs are done timely and professionally.” Their technicians are skilled and professional. They pride themselves on getting the job done well and on time. “We have multiple technicians, so if you think a job is too large for one man and a toolbox, you can have two men and more if the job requires it,” he said. They service not only Birmingham, but also Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Gadsden.
One Man & a Toolbox Handyman Services
Because
HOLCOMBE
Doors • Windows • Millwork
Replacement project with Kolbe product in Birmingham
Windows & Doors Windsor Windows Loewen
Quality Windows and Doors by premium manufacturers including
Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork DSA
isn’t for everyone.
Therma-Tru Southwood Doors Emtek Door Locks Delaney Hardware Schlage Door Locks Millworks
120 Atchison Drive in Chelsea, AL
Doing it Yourself
Koetter Woodworking Standard and Custom Trim
205.991.3667
Barnett Millworks
HolcombeDoorandWindow.com
Lumber and Beams
Residential Commercial Special Projects
Cedar, Fir, Redwood
205-823-2111 • OneMan-Toolbox.com
280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B21
Window Decor & Design 205-437-9575 • blindsandshuttersofbirmingham.com Pam Mitchell, owner of Window Decor & Design, understands the art of window treatment and decoration. Not only does her work protect her clients’ belongings, but it can also add an extra element of style to a room. As an interior design specialist, Mitchell’s clients enjoy the benefit of having both an interior design specialist and someone with the knowledge and expertise to provide the best treatment service for their home. “It’s always a good time to consider treating all of your uncovered windows,” Mitchell said. Although the possibility of sun damage is present year-round, most homes get a lot more sunlight in the spring and summer. She warns that sunlight can not only damage floors and furniture but also painted walls and art. “There are so many different window treatments that can protect all this and still offer lots of natural light,” Mitchell said. Window Decor & Design provides an extensive variety of motorized blinds, custom shades, shutters, draperies and other window-covering products. Mitchell is also a Hunter Douglas product specialist. She can bring the
Skelton’s Heating and Cooling 205-289-3413 • skeltonsair.com
showroom straight to your home and help you choose the best treatment to match your style. With more than 26 years of experience and a sharp attention to detail, Mitchell can help guide clients about the right window treatment to pull together any space, whether it’s residential or commercial. And for a limited time, she’s offering a free cordless lift feature on Graber shades and a free hidden tilt upgrade on Graber composite wood shutters.
In Alabama, fall is a relief from the sweltering summer heat, but not if your indoor heating and cooling system is in need of maintenance or repairs. Brian Skelton and his team at Skelton’s Heating and Cooling have made it their business to solve that problem for clients, helping families achieve the perfect cozy temperature during the colder months of the year. Skelton’s Heating and Cooling is a locally operated business that is committed to helping people stay cool for the summer and warm for the winter. Skelton opened the doors of the business in early 2002. “I started this company from nothing,” he said. “[My] main focus [was] treating people like I wanted to be treated, [both] as an employee and a consumer.” Skelton knows that being able to enjoy your home has a lot to do with heating and air conditioning. He also knows just how miserable it can be when your heating
and cooling unit isn’t working properly. That’s why he offers emergency and after hours services. He also makes sure he gives all of his clients the most honest advice possible on the proper ways to maintain their heating and cooling units. In preparation for the cooler months of the year, he advises his clients to change their filters and make sure their furnace has had proper maintenance. Scheduling routine furnace maintenance in early fall can help homeowners avoid costly mid-winter breakdowns or extreme energy bills. The technicians at Southern Air will make sure your furnace is ready to keep you and your family warm without breaking the bank. Skelton’s Heating, Cooling and Refrigeration offers heating and air conditioning, residential and commercial HVAC services and duct work. Rather than sweat it out this year, give Skelton’s Heating and Cooling a call.
When your team is on TV... THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS A BROKEN A/C Free Estimates on New Installs 100% Money Back Guarantee 10 Years Parts and LABOR Warranty 100% Comfort Guarantee 205-289-7121 I WWW.SKELETONSAIR.COM AL CERT# 02054
B22 • October 2021
280 Living
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Door Restore 205-492-5866 • door-restore.business.site
Melissa Wise – RealtySouth 205-520-3878 • melissawisehomes.com Melissa Wise of RealtySouth likes to refer to herself “the local next door.” She’s a local expert, living and selling in the Birmingham region — specifically the 280 corridor — for over 23 years. According to Wise, buying a home in this competitive market is a process that every aspiring homeowner needs a great Realtor to coach them through. Even though it’s a seller’s market, homeowners preparing for the spring market who want to get the most out of their investment also need an expert that understands what to look for in an offer — it’s not always about the price. For both instances, Melissa Wise is the one to call. “You still need a Realtor in this fastpaced seller’s market,” Wise said. “Sellers get the highest price from being listed, availing themselves to most buyers and having the expertise of a Realtor to negotiate multiple offers.” Wise works with first-time homebuyers,
downsizers and everyone in between, she said. “My years of experience have covered all the bases, no matter what stage of life my clients are in,” Wise said. A Realtor who is honest, hardworking, professional and dedicated to the real estate profession, Wise has always considered home and family priorities in her life. “I really have liked the process of helping people find a home they love,” she said. She also has a fierce network of support people around her — from photographers to staging people to professional decorators and landscapers — to help the process go even more smoothly. Her biggest piece of advice, after nearly a quarter century in business? “Patience!” Wise said. “Buyers who rush or are under pressure to buy have made the most mistakes.” For more advice from a local expert, call Melissa Wise, today.
An entry door is a great feature and can make a first impression when it comes to your home’s curb appeal. However, years of exposure to sunlight, rain and frost can cause significant damage and leave signs of wear on wood doors and iron doors. Door Restore has been restoring doors since 2004, offering maintenance and restoration to clients in the Birmingham area. “We only work on doors; it’s our specialty,” owner Van Etheridge said. “We never take your door away to refinish it, keeping your home secure.” Etheridge likes working with his hands. Majoring in art, Etheridge took his talents painting murals and specialized in wall finishes while restoring iron and wooden doors. “When the economy crashed in 2008, I went to work selling pharmaceuticals,” Etheridge said. “I was still restoring iron doors part-time on the weekends for a prominent builder. When the pharmaceutical company sold and laid off the sales team, I started back working with my hands and started Door Restore.” Door Restore offers a maintenance program that will keep your door looking its best for years while saving you money.
“Wood doors weather quickly and need top coating every one to two years, depending on exposure to sun and rain,” Etheridge said. “This is why when you use Door Restore, we choose a maintenance program for our clients that provides maintenance once a year including a top coat to save the home owner money in the future. “Iron doors have a special oil rubbed bronze finish or other metal hues in them,” Etheridge said. “We are able to restore your door to the original finish.”
Don’t replace your door...
Restore it.
Door Restore can expertly restore your door on-site without removing it, keeping your home secure.
FREE ESTIMATES • 205-492-5865 door-restore.business.site
280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists 205-520-9777 • foundationsunlimited.com As fall rolls in, take a moment to check the overall health of your home for the cooler months. Are the gutters clogged? Windows sealed? What about your foundation? Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists can help you pinpoint problems before they worsen. Six key foundation issues to watch for: ○ Concrete raising ○ Cracks in the floors or walls ○ Cracks in your brick that look like stair steps ○ Gaps around exterior window frames and doors ○ Sagging or uneven floors ○ Separation between the wall and counters or cabinets Our foundation repair contractors can quickly identify the root cause of any problems your home may have and propose the best solution for you. Whether it’s due to poor construction, soil problems,
weight-related pressure problems or age, a professional, experienced team uses the latest techniques to handle any type of basement foundation repair. The initial meeting with a foundation expert is always free. And warranted, proven quality remains a priority to complete each project successfully and on time. “The entire staff of Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists are very professional and knowledgeable and made every effort to make sure the job was done right,” said one customer. Other customers from all around the Birmingham area have trusted Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists for great results. “We just bought a new house, and there was a sagging spot in the kitchen floor,” one customer said. “… They have just been superb and taken care of everything we needed.”
FOUNDATION PROBLEMS? WE HAVE THE SOLUTION.
FOUNDATION REPAIR BASEMENT WALL REPAIR FLOOR LEVELING CRAWLSPACE ENCAPSULATION
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE TODAY
205-520-9777
foundationsunlimited.com
Family-Owned and Operated Since 1996
October 2021 • B23
Wild Birds Unlimited of Birmingham 205-823-6500 • birmingham.wbu.com As the leaves start to change and people gear up for some of their favorite holidays, Tracy Hill from Wild Birds Unlimited reminds us that there’s another thing to look forward to during this season. “As the weather turns colder and natural food sources are depleted like insects and berries on trees, the birds really start coming to the feeders,” she said. Wild Birds Unlimited helps people enjoy a hobby they can do right from their backyard: feeding birds. Winter in Alabama is a great time and place to feed the birds, Hill said. Birds that aren’t normally here will migrate south for the winter.
“We get lots of yellow-rumped warblers, and everybody loves those,” she said. “The yellow-bellied sapsucker. We get red-breasted nuthatches that spend the winter here and lots of woodpeckers. It’s just a whole new variety of birds to watch.” One product customers are loving right now — especially children — are Wild Birds Unlimited’s Seed Character feeders. These seed cylinders are shaped and colored to look like woodland creatures such as squirrels, raccoons and owls. “The birds just pick away at the little seed characters, and they’re sort of unique to us. No one else would have them,” she said. “They’re just fun, and the customers love them.”
B24 • October 2021
280 Living
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Mr. Handyman of Birmingham 205-606-0800 • mrhandyman.com/birmingham As the weather cools down and you spend more time indoors, you may notice things have gone into disrepair during the summer months. Andrew Howard, the owner of Mr. Handyman of Birmingham, advises all homeowners to take a moment to inspect their home before the winter, especially your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors. “As the weather turns cooler, we begin using heaters and fireplaces to stay warm,” Howard said. “These heating sources can emit carbon monoxide that is an odorless gas that is harmful to your health. Test these devices to ensure they are functioning properly and replace batteries as needed to ensure your family’s safety.” If you need help with any of these tasks, Mr. Handyman of Birmingham, a locally owned home improvement and maintenance service, can help. “[We’re] your one-stop shop for a wide range of home maintenance and repair solutions,” Howard said. The staff of Mr. Handyman includes highly skilled craftsmen who are W2 employees with at least 15 years’ experience and undergo extensive background checks,
Insurance Place Birmingham 205-995-1956 • insuranceplacebirmingham.com
plus drug and alcohol screens, to assure you a safe and worry-free job. Customer service is exceptional. “We take pride in our work, but customer service goes farther than the perfect job. We will answer the phone with a live voice 24/7 and guarantee our work for one year. We strive to provide an exceptional experience while we maintain and improve your most valuable asset: your home.”
Insurance Place of Birmingham will tell you that “your future belongs to us.” That’s a big statement. But, once you discover its selection of insurance providers and coverage that make the unexpected moments of the future less daunting, it makes sense. Since 1987, Insurance Place has been a mainstay in the Birmingham area for preferred insurance coverage and services. Representing more than 30 insurance carriers, the independent insurance agency can find an insurance solution for virtually any person, family, business, church or municipality, which takes care of plenty of futures. “Our ability to place policies with different companies allows us to address issues such as teenage drivers, high-value homes, secondary residences, beach
homes, business ventures and countless other extraordinary situations,” co-owner Jessica Smith said. Located at 2225 Cahaba Valley Drive, Insurance Place has a market for homes of every type and location. It also provides excellent options for auto, watercraft and recreational vehicle insurance needs. In addition, the agency is a trusted source for commercial insurance. Clients span the spectrum from the one-man contractor to multistate operations. Shopping for insurance can be difficult, but Insurance Place does the work for you. Maintain your peace of mind knowing that our insurance professionals have your back. Give them a call today so they can conduct an insurance review to find the best coverage for your needs and future.
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280Living.com
FALL HOME AND GARDEN ○ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
October 2021 • B25
Nature One Landscape Design 205-314-5780 • info@NatureOneInc.com
Classic Iron Works 205-322-6868 • classicironworks.com Looking to spruce up the look of your home’s exterior? Jeff Boyd and his team at Classic Iron Works are artisans bringing timeless beauty and an instant boost in curb-appeal to every home they add their unique metal-work to. The team provides custom created doors, handrails, fencing and even burglar bars. One of the simplest ways to add a sense of elegance to a new home or upgrade the look of an older home is getting a new front door installed. Classic Iron Works provides two custom products that will add sophisticated style to and blend seamlessly with any home: their ornamental iron doors and their castle entry doors. The materials used to create both styles save homeowners the headache of
constant maintenance that they might experience with wooden doors. Both the ornamental iron doors and the castle entry doors are crafted from steel and coated with a weather resistant powder coat in black, pewter or Tuscan bronze hues that match well with homes of any color. “We build everything custom,” Boyd said. “If an architect designs your door, if you have a particular style home or even if you just saw a fence or door on the internet that you like, you can send it to us and we can match and build that design for your home.” To find out more about the unique beauty that custom metal work and ornamental iron can add to your home, call or visit Classic Iron Works today.
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Since 2000, Nature One Inc. has been a landscape contractor providing highly recommended, reliable and reasonable landscape services to the “Over the Mountain Area” of Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County. Nature One Inc. carries an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We are proud of our reputation as a highquality landscape company, and we would love to work with you. With customer service and satisfaction at the heart of our business, we continue to grow and build our company. Our highly qualified team is a makeup skilled professional employees and expert subcontractors that carry the passion and skill set to design, install and maintain custom outdoor living for our clients. No project is too big or too small. We know that we can provide you with the highest level of satisfaction in our work and help to make your outdoor
dreams come true. Kevin Thienpont, owner and licensed landscape designer of Nature One Inc., is always in control of entire project and team. Our pledge to you: At Nature One Inc., we assure our clients the highest level of service and professionalism. We have an intelligent, professional and respectful staff, strong management and a clean appearance. We promise and deliver reliability.
B26 • October 2021
280 Living
280
Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
1298583
35242
1298142
Address
Status
Price
6120 Rosemont Court
New
$749,900
35242
1429 Bristol Manor
New
$460,000
1297956
35242
4976 Meadow Brook Road
New
$365,000
1298331
35242
4755 Liberty Park Lane
New
$750,000
1298465
35242
1372 Legacy Drive
New
$799,900
1298464
35242
4661 Amberley Drive
New
$405,000
1298456
35242
5248 Harvest Ridge Lane
New
$319,900
1298570
35242
2171 South Oak Drive
New
$1,400,000
1298552
35242
2019 Eagle Creek Circle
New
$499,900
1298387
35242
1064 Monaghan Drive
New
$389,900
1298205
35242
4025 Alston Way
New
$399,900
1298155
35242
1308 Deerhurst Court
New
$795,000
1298081
35242
4327 Paxton Way
New
$569,900
1298559
35242
4539 High Court Circle
New
$2,976,815
1297943
35242
3014 Belvedere Lane
New
$369,900
1297915
35242
122 Greystone Glen Drive
New
$379,000
1297860
35242
3 Deerwood
New
$2,497,000
1297853
35242
7378 Ridgecrest Court Road
New
$1,350,000
1297686
35242
403 Carnoustie
New
$999,900
1297512
35242
2109 Brae Trail
New
$850,000
1297495
35242
1016 Westwick Circle
New
$494,900
1297386
35242
5236 Harvest Ridge Lane
New
$399,900
1295900
35242
1319 Highland Lakes Trail
New
$649,900
1296946
35242
3 Bellerive Knolls
New
$1,249,000
1298558
35043
3188 Oakridge Way
New
$724,900
1298260
35043
2446 Alabama 69
New
$135,000
1298105
35043
2027 Adams Ridge Drive
New
$539,000
1297781
35043
546 Alabama 69
New
$379,900
1293706
35043
128 Carriage Creek Path
New
$799,900
1298088
35043
461 Hamilton Place
New
$414,900
1298062
35043
258 Chelsea Park Road
New
$299,900
1298032
35043
2028 Adams Ridge Drive
New
$499,938
1297971
35043
536 Lime Creek Cove
New
$325,000
1297717
35043
2147 Springfield Drive
New
$372,900
1296275
35043
4939 Shelby County 39
New
$340,000
1295940
35043
440 Crossbridge Road
New
$312,145
1295679
35043
736 Hickory Hollow
New
$763,037
1294234
35043
521 Hidden Ridge
New
$525,000
1296609
35043
2005 Lime Creek Drive
New
$529,900
1293747
35043
515 El Camino Real
New
$579,000
1294021
35043
445 Shelby County 335
New
$389,000
1293367
35043
932 Hidden Ridge
New
$1,750,000
1293693
35043
459 Crossbridge Road
New
$315,040
1294860
35043
540 Lime Creek Cove
New
$470,000
1293610
35043
3176 Oakridge Way
New
$749,900
1294239
35043
125 Shelby County 471
New
$218,000
1290027
35043
320 Timberview Trail
New
$674,900
1290841
35043
100 Bolivar Lane
New
$439,900
1277234
35043
5853 Shelby County 51
New
$999,900
1289289
35043
9 Allen Drive
New
$139,000
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Sept. 17. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
6120 Rosemont Court
4539 High Court Circle
128 Carriage Creek Path
932 Hidden Ridge
280Living.com
October 2021 • B27
The Kirchner family with their new 2021 Volvo XC60
The Royal Family Crowns the Kirchners It says a lot when buyers trust us to match them with their next perfect car, truck, or SUV; it speaks volumes more when they return for vehicle after vehicle, time and time again. From expanding the Bama Concrete fleet for work to shopping for their personal rides—like this new luxurious, mid-size Volvo XC60—the Kirchners have been a part of the Royal Family for years. The attentiveness and attention to detail the Kirchners experience time after time are why DealerRater named Volvo Cars of Vestavia Hills Alabama’s Volvo Dealer of the Year based on real reviews. Stop by the corner of I-65 and Highway 31 in Vestavia, and we promise you’ll never look at car shopping the same way again.
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VOLVO CARS OF VESTAVIA HILLS
SECTION
C OCTOBER 2021
Sports C4 Faith C13
BIRMINGHAM OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1994
Opinion C13 Calendar C14
bedzzzexpress.com as 1-2-3 Easy
Local teams wrap up regular season in October Easyas 1-2-3
By KYLE PARMLEY
High school football enters the home stretch in October. The month is essentially the second half of the regular season. Region play finishes up, which means each team has the opportunity to make one final push to make the playoffs or secure more favorable postseason seeding. The games have added pressure for the teams on the fringe of those playoffs. It is the month in which teams show their true identity. Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park all hope to be playing meaningful games in the month of October. Briarwood and Oak Mountain were playoff teams a year ago, while Chelsea and Spain Park were left on the outside looking in. Briarwood plays its final three Class 6A, Region 5, games to begin the month before capping off the regular season with a non-region opponent. On Oct. 1, the Lions host Shades Valley, a team playing in its first season under new head coach Rueben Nelson. Last fall, Briarwood took care of the Mounties 42-19 in the first ever meeting between the two programs. The following Thursday, the Lions head to Mountain Brook for a game that could potentially decide the region title. After all, it did last year and both teams are expected to be right back in that position once again this fall. In the teams’ 2020 meeting, Mountain Brook got past Briarwood 17-7 thanks to a bruising running attack that piled up 263 rushing yards. The Spartans offense is more balanced this season, but the overall physicality of the game 1 YEAR
LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE
Briarwood running back Luke Reebals (23) takes the ball into the end zone as the Lions face Chelsea on Sept. 3 at Lions Pride Stadium. The Lions defeated Chelsea 42-35 in overtime. Photo by Erin Nelson.
2 YEAR
EXTENDED WARRANTY
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COMFORT GUARANTEE
See SEASON | page C10
C2 • October 2021
280 Living
AUG •
62 AUG
•
62
A Heritage of Progress
Chief Calvin McGhee met with President John F. Kennedy in 1962 to petition for federal recognition of the Poarch Creek Indians as a sovereign nation. Find out more about our Tribe’s history on our website.
THE POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS CELEBRATES NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
Descended from the native peoples of the Mississippian period (AD 8001500), our ancestors endured great hardship and discrimination after the Indian Removal Act with an indomitable spirit, nobility and grace. Our Tribe became empowered with a strong mission to provide for ourselves and the communities in which we live with a dedication to service, philanthropy and the revitalization of traditional arts and culture. The story of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians is a true American success story—one of strength and perseverance.
280Living.com
October 2021 • C3
TOP NOTCH HEALTH CARE
IT TAKES A
TEAM 1337 MONTCLAIR ROAD | BIRMINGHAM | 205-203-8226 708 MONTGOMERY HIGHWAY | VESTAVIA HILLS | 205-203-8282 3965 CROSSHAVEN DRIVE | CAHABA HEIGHTS | 205-582-1222 Visit our website for hours at each location
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C4 • October 2021
280 Living
Sports
Football Highlights Photos by Laura Chramer, Todd Lester, Erin Nelson and James Nicholas
Above: Spain Park wide receiver Pierson Cole has emerged as one of the top threats in Spain Park’s passing attack this fall. He caught three passes for 70 yards in a win over Huntsville. Left: As Briarwood waits to get top receiver Nic Dicen back, Jay Butler is one of the targets who has stepped up. Against Chelsea, Butler rose to the occasion and caught seven passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. Right: Oak Mountain running back Trey Vassell has taken hold of a prominent role in the Oak Mountain backfield this fall. In the win over Pelham, he scored two of the team’s three touchdowns, rushing for 76 yards on 13 carries. Far right: Chelsea’s offense has shown flashes early this season, with running back Matt Gray proving a versatile option out of the backfield. He had a productive game against Briarwood, gaining 159 all-purpose yards and scoring a 57-yard receiving touchdown.
Chelsea’s Cooper Griffin has moved over to tight end for the Hornets and played well so far this year. He made a big play on special teams against Homewood, blocking a punt.
Running back Cooper Higgins is one of multiple weapons Briarwood has coming out of the backfield, and he has produced in the early portion of the season. Against Woodlawn, three of Higgins’ four touches resulted in scores. He scored on a 7-yard run and caught three passes for 106 yards.
280Living.com
October 2021 • C5 Chelsea quarterback Hayden Garrison has definitely had some strong moments in his first full season as the Hornets’ starting quarterback. Against Briarwood, he nearly led his team to the upset. He completed 19-of-28 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown.
Above left: Oak Mountain defensive back and kicker Garrett Murphy iced the game in Oak Mountain’s win over Gadsden City. He kicked a 32-yard field goal to put the Eagles up 17-7 and intercepted a pass on the Titans’ ensuing possession in the final moments. Above right: Spain Park is putting a strong emphasis on the running game this year, and running back Zamir Farris has become a focal point of the offense. In the Jaguars’ season opener, Farris rushed 12 times for 109 yards and a touchdown, leading the team in rushing.
Above: Running back C.J. Branson is another force in the Oak Mountain rushing attack. He rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ win over Chelsea to begin the season. Below: Briarwood is always known for its defense, and sophomore defensive back Grey Reebals has made plenty of plays in the first few games. He broke up two passes in the overtime win over Chelsea and intercepted a pass against Spain Park.
Taking over under center for Spain Park this year has been Evan Smallwood, who has sparked the offense with his feet and his arm. He showed that in a big way in the first game of the season, passing for 113 yards and a touchdown and running for 81 yards in the win over Huntsville.
C6 • October 2021
280 Living
Spain Park’s Audrey Rothman (8) spikes the ball as the Jags face Sparkman in a match at Spain Park High School on Aug. 26. Photos by Erin Nelson.
‘A once-in-a-lifetime player’ Audrey Rothman aims to finish her Spain Park career on top Rothman (8) passes the ball during the Jags’ match against Sparkman. Spain Park head coach Kellye Bowen knows she’s biased but believes Rothman is as good as she’s ever seen.
By KYLE PARMLEY It did not surprise many observers to see the Hoover High School volleyball team defeat Spain Park in straight sets in the 2020 Class 7A state championship. Hoover had one of the best teams in recent memory last fall, winning 50 consecutive matches on the way to its first state title. That doesn’t mean the result sits well with Spain Park outside hitter Audrey Rothman. In fact, it eats at her. It has driven her to push for more in her final season with the Jaguars, as she puts the finishing touches on her senior campaign and storied career. “We’ve been practicing really hard since we had the state championship last year,” Rothman said. “We’ve definitely conditioned ourselves well and we’ve also been in the weight room a lot, getting stronger.” The debate for the best volleyball player in the state of Alabama goes through the city of Hoover. The conversation typically starts and ends with some combination of Hoover’s Rya McKinnon and Rothman. McKinnon was named Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and Starnes Media All-South Metro Player of the Year last fall. Both played in the AHSAA North-South All-Star Game over the summer. Spain Park head coach Kellye Bowen knows she’s biased but believes Rothman is as good as she’s ever seen. “In my opinion, she is the best senior in her class,” Bowen said. “A lot of people take for granted great players and that’s one thing I’ve tried not to do.” Last year was the furthest Spain Park volleyball has ever advanced in the state tournament and Rothman certainly had a great deal to do with that. She was a first team outside hitter on the All-South Metro team, racking up 512 kills, 244 assists and 172 digs for the season. “She is extremely valuable to Alabama volleyball,” Bowen said. “She’s put a lot of things on the map for us in general at Spain Park. This year, she’s done a great job leading, which hasn’t always been the case, because she’s just let the older kids lead. Now, she’s
actually being a vocal leader.” Rothman hasn’t always needed to be that vocal leader. She joined the varsity team as an eighth grader simply trying to fit in. Bowen remembers a team camp four years ago at which Rothman was standing next to Marlee Johnson, a Jags standout at the time. Johnson told Rothman she had the potential to be great one day. At the time, Rothman was a shy middle hitter, just looking to find her way. “Everything,” she said of what’s changed between then and now. “I was a middle and now I’m an outside. That’s a big thing. I’ve definitely gotten a lot more comfortable. [Coach] Bowen’s always really tried to push me to develop my leadership skills and be a good teammate so I can elevate the play of everyone around me.” The Jags are off to a great start this season.
They won their first 14 matches of the year, only dropping one set along the way. Spain Park had a tough time of things in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida, but that was only a minor stumble. While last season resulted in a runner-up finish for Spain Park, the path to getting there was a little rocky. Seniors Rothman, Paige Ingersoll, Olivia Myers, Brooke Gober and Bella Halyard were part of a team that suffered a significant slump in the middle of last season. The Jags picked themselves off the mat and got things together ahead of postseason play, but the hope is to stay at the top of the heap as much as possible this fall. “We know the ceiling is high for this team and we want to walk out of this year with no regrets,” Rothman said. “Me and our seniors, it’s our last year. We just really want to leave it all out on the court.”
Bowen called Rothman a perfectionist. After converting kills on 14 of her 16 attacks on opening night — which is a stellar match for any outside hitter — Rothman lamented the two misses and was looking to find ways to correct those mistakes. She plans to give it everything she’s got down the stretch, with hopes that the 2021 campaign culminates in a state title. “I want to walk away knowing I gave my all to this program for the last five years,” she said. Rothman will take that same mentality to Florida State next year, as she becomes part of the indoor and beach volleyball programs in Tallahassee. She has been named an All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and was named to the Junior Volleyball Association Watch List as well. “She’s a once-in-a-lifetime player,” Bowen said.
280Living.com
October 2021 • C7
Personalized care near you Don’t delay the care you need Whether it’s a chronic condition or an unexpected concern, count on the compassionate, personalized care team at Ascension St. Vincent’s Primary Care Greystone Village. Drs. Tracy Jacobs and Allison Sullivan Chappell listen to understand you and your health concerns, and deliver the care you need. And we are maintaining strict safety precautions to protect you and your family while in our care.
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HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL BUCCANEERS FOOTBALL COVERAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU THROUGHOUT THE SEASON BY
C8 • October 2021
280 Living Left: The Jags come together after scoring a point in a match against Sparkman on Aug. 26 at Spain Park High School. Below: Briarwood’s Bradford Latta (13) sends the ball over the net in a match against Mountain Brook on Aug. 31 at Spartan Arena.
VOLLEYBALL HIGHLIGHTS Photos by Erin Nelson
Clockwise, from above: Briarwood’s Jolee Giadrosich (2) sets the ball in a match against Mountain Brook on Aug. 31. Chelsea’s Ashley Washington (24) passes the ball over the net during a match against Vestavia Hills on Aug. 19 at Chelsea High School. Chelsea’s Addy Evans (2) spikes the ball during the Hornets’ match against Vestavia Hills on Aug. 19.
280Living.com
October 2021 • C9
Varsity Sports Calendar FOOTBALL BRIARWOOD Oct. 1: vs. Shades Valley. 7 p.m. Oct. 7: @ Mountain Brook. 7 p.m. Oct. 22: vs. Homewood. 7 p.m. Oct. 29: @ Corner. 7 p.m. CHELSEA Oct. 1: @ Woodlawn. 7 p.m. Oct. 8: @ Huffman. 7 p.m. Oct. 15: vs. Shades Valley. 7 p.m. Oct. 22: vs. Mountain Brook. 7 p.m. Oct. 29: @ Calera. 7 p.m. OAK MOUNTAIN Oct. 1: @ Spain Park. 7 p.m. Oct. 8: vs. Tuscaloosa County. 7 p.m.
Oct. 15: @ Thompson. 7 p.m. Oct. 22: vs. Hewitt-Trussville. 7 p.m. Oct. 28: vs. Clay-Chalkville. 7 p.m. SPAIN PARK
Oct. 12: vs. Helena, Ramsay. Helena High School. 4 p.m. Oct. 13-16: Area tournament. TBD. CHELSEA
Oct. 1: vs. Oak Mountain. 7 p.m.
Oct. 2: Jasper Tournament. Jasper High School.
Oct. 8: vs. Hoover. 7 p.m.
Oct. 5: @ Mountain Brook. 6 p.m.
Oct. 15: @ Vestavia Hills. 7 p.m.
Oct. 11: vs. Southside-Gadsden, Jacksonville. Southside High School. TBD.
Oct. 22: vs. Tuscaloosa County. 7 p.m.
SPAIN PARK Oct. 5: @ Vestavia Hills. 5 p.m. Oct. 7: vs. Oak Mountain. 5 p.m. Oct. 8-9: Margaret Blalock Tournament. Homewood High School. Oct. 13-16: Area tournament. TBD.
CROSS-COUNTRY Oct. 2: Jesse Owens Classic. Oakville Indian Mounds Park.
Oct. 28: vs. Hueytown. 7 p.m.
Oct. 12: vs. Hoover, Sparkman. Hoover High School. TBD.
VOLLEYBALL
Oct. 13-16: Area tournament. TBD.
Oct. 9: Helena Invitational. Helena High.
BRIARWOOD
OAK MOUNTAIN
Oct. 5: vs. Pelham, Tuscaloosa County. Pelham High School. 4 p.m.
Oct. 5: vs. Hoover. 5 p.m.
Oct. 16: Husky Challenge. Hewitt-Trussville High School.
Oct. 7: vs. John Carroll, Westminster-Oak Mountain. 5 p.m. Oct. 9: Athens Tournament. Athens High School.
Oct. 9: Dew It on the Trails. Point Mallard.
Oct. 7: @ Spain Park. 5 p.m.
Oct. 21: Last Chance Invitational. John R. Esslinger Trail of Champions.
Oct. 8-9: Margaret Blalock Tournament. Homewood High School.
Oct. 21: Spain Park Last Chance. Veterans Park.
Oct. 13-16: Area tournament. TBD.
Oct. 28: Section meet. TBD.
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C10 • October 2021
280 Living
Left: Chelsea quarterback Hayden Garrison (2) looks to throw a pass in a game against Oak Mountain on Aug. 20 at Chelsea High School. Center: Oak Mountain quarterback Evan Smith (9) makes a handoff to running back Trey Vassell (5) in the same game. Photos by Erin Nelson. Right: Spain Park quarterback Evan Smallwood (7) attempts a pass during a game against Briarwood on Aug. 27 at Jaguar Stadium in Hoover. Photo by Todd Lester.
SEASON
CONTINUED from page C1 should be in the same stratosphere. Briarwood takes its open week the following week before wrapping up region play at home against Homewood on Oct. 22. Last fall, the Lions got past Homewood 28-6 thanks to a huge game from Luke Reebals, who racked up over 250 all-purpose yards. That win snapped a fourgame winning streak in the series for Homewood. The Patriots hold a 10-5 edge all time. The Lions conclude the regular season Oct. 29 at Corner, a program the Lions have had great success against. Briarwood capped off the regular season with a 42-7 win over the Yellow Jackets last fall and has won seven of the eight previous meetings between the schools. Chelsea plays four straight Class 6A, Region 5 games to begin the month. On Oct. 1, the Hornets will travel to Lawson Field to take on Woodlawn. They had no problem with Woodlawn a year ago, as they ran to a 56-0 victory in the first meeting ever between the two schools. The following Friday, the Hornets head to Huffman to take on the Vikings. This matchup was a thriller last fall, as Chelsea outlasted
Huffman 35-34 in overtime. Adam Reaves scored all five Hornets touchdowns that night and scored the two-point conversion that allowed his team to tie the game near the end of regulation. After Reaves’ final score of the night, this one in overtime, Huffman scored a matching touchdown. But the Vikings went for two and were stopped, giving Chelsea the win. That was the first time the schools have met on the field as well. Chelsea hosts Shades Valley on Oct. 15 and look to avenge a disappointing defeat from a season ago. The Hornets turned the ball over four times in the first quarter and lost 35-12 in the maiden contest between the two schools. The Hornets also played Mountain Brook for the first time last fall and conclude region play Oct. 22 this season against the Spartans. Chelsea actually took a 21-14 lead over Mountain Brook — which went on to the 6A semifinals — in the second quarter before ultimately falling 35-21. Chelsea wraps up the regular season Oct. 29 at Calera. Last year, the Hornets were able to cap off their season with a 31-14 victory over the Eagles. Chelsea has owned the series in recent years, winning nine of the last 10 over Calera. Oak Mountain also takes on four region foes before capping off the season. The Eagles’ road is not easy in Class 7A, Region 3, but they were
able to navigate it to a playoff berth last year and hope to do so again this fall in head coach Tyler Crane’s first season. On Oct. 1, Oak Mountain heads to Spain Park to take on a Jaguars team that the Eagles handled 48-17 last fall. Star quarterback Evan Smith was one of two Oak Mountain rushers to go over 100 yards in the contest, and the win was the first one for Oak Mountain over Spain Park since 2014. Spain Park holds a 14-5 edge in the series. The following week, the Eagles host Tuscaloosa County, a program that has struggled in recent years but is trending upward under firstyear coach Adam Winegarden. Oak Mountain won 42-21 going away, as Smith ran for 226 yards and four touchdowns. The teams have faced off each of the last seven years, with Oak Mountain winning five of them. Oak Mountain heads to Thompson on Oct. 15. The Eagles fell to Thompson 49-21 and have not knocked off the Warriors since a last-second pass lifted them in 2016. The Eagles cap off the region slate Oct. 22 at home against Hewitt-Trussville. Their matchup with the Huskies has produced plenty of offensive fireworks in recent years, but Hewitt has come out on top each of the last five times. Last fall, Hewitt took down Oak Mountain 51-21.
The Eagles finish the regular season against Clay-Chalkville on Oct. 28. They lost a tight battle to the Cougars last fall 21-14. Spain Park’s schedule features the game against Oak Mountain to begin the month, along with three more region contests and a non-region game to finish things off. Spain Park hosts Hoover on Oct. 8 for the annual city rivalry game. Despite being in the midst of what turned out to be a six-game losing streak, Spain Park showed up in this contest last year and gave Hoover a tough game. Hoover outlasted Spain Park 47-34 in a high-scoring affair that featured over 1,000 total yards of offense. On Oct. 15, Spain Park travels to Vestavia Hills for a critical region matchup. Vestavia Hills has won the last three games in the series after a run of four wins for the Jags. Spain Park wraps up region play at home against Tuscaloosa County on Oct. 22 and hosts Hueytown on Oct. 28 to finish the regular season. The Jags knocked off both of these teams in one-point thrillers to complete the 2020 season with consecutive wins. The Jags trailed County 20-0 at halftime last year before rallying to win 35-34. Spain Park trailed Hueytown by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter before rallying again, winning 63-62.
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October 2021 • C11 Members of Team Chalk pose for a photo with Chalk Gym owner Terry Grisham, center front, during the United States Powerlifting Association Club One Classic in Oxford. Photos courtesy of Terry Grisham.
The little gym that could Terry Grisham’s Team Chalk helps regular members become champion powerlifters By NICK PATTERSON When Ali Priest took her job at McLeod Software in Inverness, she also needed to find a gym that was closer to work. She found a spot just across U.S. 280 at Chalk Gym. And now, just a few months after starting at the gym and joining the family of lifters led by Chalk Gym owner Terry Grisham, Priest not only has a new perspective, but since July 10, she has a gold medal and her name in the record book. All nine lifters from Team Chalk participated July 10 in the United States Powerlifting Association Club One Classic in Oxford and earned gold medals and several state records in their weight and age classes. Besides Priest, 32, Team Chalk was represented by Tyler McGill of Vestavia; Tamdoan Huynh, a Spain Park High School senior from Greystone; Betty Petro, a grandmother from Mt. Laurel; Roy Jackson; Noah Kim; Carolyn Moore, a Trussville grandmother who broke her back a few years ago, and her husband Sandy Moore, a Vietnam veteran and former Homewood firefighter, who still carries shrapnel from the war. “It was really fun having so many people who I know there, getting to cheer on my teammates and having them there with me,” Priest said. Grisham, a longtime weightlifter with his own name in the books, setting a master’s world record in the squat in a Las Vegas meet in 2019, uses what he’s learned in training and coaching college and professional athletes to encourage and develop a diverse group of ordinary people into powerlifting champions. “None of these people are professional athletes, but they’re in here getting better, overcoming obstacles and doing things way into their older years, which is something that everybody doesn’t think they could do. But
they really could if they believed they could,” Grisham said. Chalk Gym — so named because of the chalk weightlifters often put on their hands to enhance their grip — opened in 2016 after Grisham had already spent a career in coaching. “I was a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Oklahoma. I started in 1984,” Grisham said. After that he became a strength coach at LSU. “In 1991 I worked with the baseball team when they won their first national championship, and then that got the attention of the Chicago White Sox, and I got a job there,” he said. During the Major League Baseball strike in 1995, he wound up remaining in Birmingham, working at an orthopedic group office. Grisham decided to put his expertise to use in his own business. “Everybody said, ‘You have a master’s degree in exercise physiology. You worked with professional athletes (including Michael Jordan) … You’d be crazy not to open your own gym’,” he said. He found that the same kind of motivation that benefited pro athletes also worked for people with more basic needs for weight training. ‘“When people come in here to work out, it’s my job to help them perform better in any regard that they want.” Grisham said. “So some people do want to compete. Some people just want to do rehab, some people want to lose weight, some people just want to get stronger,” he said. Priest had been lifting for a while before coming to Chalk Gym. It was February when she changed jobs and changed gyms. She said she finds Chalk Gym to be significantly different from what she had experienced before. “It’s really unlike any environment I’ve ever been in,” she said. “It’s a fairly small gym, so you kind of get
Ali Priest performs a squat during the Club One Classic. “I’ve never felt so deeply cared for by a coach than I have by Terry,” Priest said.
to know everybody you work out with. Everybody has their routines, so you’re usually working out with the same people. And everyone has to put up with Terry,” she said, laughing. “So I feel like there’s a bonding element just around that.” She said that as a coach, Grisham is intense. But once he yells at you, you know you’re part of the family. It’s all about doing things “the Chalk way:” “Pushing yourself. Not making any excuses… Terry just really doesn’t put up with it. So you’re really forced to really see what you’re made of, pushing yourself to really do your best and follow all of Terry’s rules and processes. “The Chalk Way is about being willing to get uncomfortable in order to achieve your goals,” she continued. “It’s about buying into a process in which you learn to control your mind and make every lift look exactly the same. It’s not really about how much weight is on the bar. It’s about doing your bet and never giving up.” Grisham said he saw the potential in Ali and the others in the group. “Everybody follows a certain program and so as everybody started to
improve, I said, ‘You guys are doing really, really well. Why don’t I look up the state records for Alabama and see what they are compared to what you guys are lifting’,” Grisham recalled. “So, come to find out, probably four or five spots that these lifters filled had no state records. They were just blank. Mainly that’s because when people turn 40 or so, they don’t do anything like they do when they’re 20. So, there were no records for young 17 year-old-girls. There were no records for female 60-yearolds, no records for female 70- yearolds and there were no records for any guys over 75. “So I said, ‘Alright guys. We’re going to go set records and you guys are going to show people that you can do it’.” Priest said that she always enjoyed “maxing out.” “I always enjoyed pushing my one rep max. And so when I was presented with the opportunity to compete, I just thought, ‘Why not?’ When Terry mentioned I should think about competing, I told him I had already thought about it, and I had to get a little bit stronger. So over the next
few weeks, my first few weeks at the gym, I was getting stronger. I had squatted 242 pounds and I said, ‘How much do I have to squat to compete? And he said, ‘300.’ And I said, “OK, let’s do it.” She ended up squatting 299 pounds in the gym, and then at the competition did 286 pounds for back squat. While the lifters on Team Chalk came to the gym for different reasons, they all had to be motivated to compete. Grisham’s method involves getting them into the mindset to do their best, but letting them know he’s there for support. “I always tell my lifters, I’m never going to put anything on the bar you can’t lift,” he said. “No. 2: I’m always going to be behind you. If you ever have a problem, I’ll be there. They have the confidence knowing I’m behind them that I’ve got my hands on the bar in case anything happens.” Grisham said as a coach you come up with whatever button for each individual that you need to push, and when you push it the right way, everybody gets inspired and they get motivated and they’ll do things that they never thought they could. “I always try to find something that’s relatable to the individual,” Grisham said. For Priest, the camaraderie at the gym makes all the difference. “I truly have been inspired by every single person that I train with and every single one of us has our own strengths and weaknesses on different lifts,” she said. “I think it’s just really motivating to be with a group of people which you know is also pushing their limits. And oftentimes during a workout, I’m motivated by watching my teammates work so hard. I would say that’s probably the unique thing about Chalk Gym. You’re not doing it alone.” And a big part of that is the intense attention of a very driven coach and trainer. “I’ve never felt so deeply cared for by a coach than I have by Terry,” she said. “It really is special in that way.”
C12 • October 2021
280 Living
Honoring Megan’s memory By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE It’s been almost two years since Susann Montgomery-Clark lost her daughter Megan Montgomery, who was killed by her estranged husband Dec. 1, 2019, at age 31. Montgomery-Clark and her husband Rod moved to Brook Highland from the Ross Bridge community in Hoover after Megan’s death. She said their family is just now at a place where they can talk about their daughter’s passing. Instead of focusing on the way her daughter died, Montgomery-Clark wants to focus on how she lived. She and her husband created the Megan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. It provides grants to area nonprofits to help educate students in high school and college to stop domestic violence before it happens. “That’s what we want to change, to make sure that young women get the knowledge they need to protect themselves,” Montgomery-Clark said. “We don’t have the expertise to do the education, but there are nonprofits out there that do. We want to educate women about healthy and unhealthy relationships.” In one of Megan’s last posts, she said “I want to help women know the warning signs so they can get out before it’s too late.” Her mother knows she would have done that, so that is why she and Megan’s stepfather are doing it. “A lot of nonprofits provide services for victims who have already been hurt, and what we want to do is help women avoid being hurt for the very first time,” she said. “Prevention is where the gap in services is.” To honor Megan, her family is hosting two events in October, which is Domestic Violence
Family to remember slain daughter with 2 events The Megan Montgomery Memorial 5K run/walk will be Oct. 16 at 8 a.m. in Homewood. The event is hosted by ERA Realty, where Megan’s father Johnny is an agent. Funds raised from both events will go directly to the Megan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Photo courtesy of Susann MontgomeryClark.
Awareness Month. The second annual Pet Blessing to celebrate St. Francis of Assisi Day and in memory of Megan will take place at Megan’s alma mater, John Carroll Catholic High School, on Oct. 2 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Montgomery-Clark said St. Francis was known for his love of animals and his ability to connect with them, and Megan was blessed with that same ability and was devoted to animal welfare. She was very involved with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and was one of the founding members of their young professionals board. The pet blessing will be in the outdoor parking lot in the back of the school at 300 Lakeshore Parkway. The event is open to the public, and blessings will be performed by Deacon Douglass Moorer from Our Lady of Fatima and Deacon Rick DiGiorgio from Prince of Peace. A drive-thru option will be available for non-leashed animals. Later in the month, the Megan Montgomery Memorial 5K run/walk will be Oct. 16 at 8 a.m. in Homewood. The event is hosted by ERA Realty, where Megan’s father Johnny is an agent. Funds raised from both events will go directly to Megan’s fund. Montgomery-Clark said they are working to continue what Megan started. She was writing a book before she passed, and they are having it finished. “We can’t give up because Megan wouldn’t want us to anyway,” she said. “It helps us with our healing. The grief will go on for the rest of our lives, but it does help because we know to make something good come out of the most horrendous evil we can imagine. In good moments, we know we are doing the right thing.” To donate to Megan’s fund, visit cfbham. org/megans-fund.
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October 2021 • C13
Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis
Model God’s mercy to your child “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 Lately, I have felt disheartened by the harsh nature of our world. In short, there is no grace, forgiveness or room to be human. People are quick to turn on a dime, praising someone one day and then villainizing them the next. From the astronomic rise of cancel culture to the mentality that you can never recover from a big mistake (or bring good from it through repentance), it is all anti-Gospel. The worst part is, our kids suffer the consequences. Have you ever wondered why this next generation is scared to death to fail? Why do they feel pressure to be perfect and believe one misstep will ruin their life forever? Today’s teens face epidemic levels of anxiety, depression and hopelessness. They’re the first generation of teens to be more stressed than their parents. One big culprit of this problem is the godless culture that’s shaping them.
If I didn’t know the truth about Jesus and the hope of the Gospel, I’d be anxious, depressed, and hopeless, too. Thankfully, God’s ways and thoughts are higher. While He certainly sets a high bar, calling us to live like Jesus, He also knows that we’ll miss the mark repeatedly. He is aware that our rock-bottom moments open the door to his mercy. His kindness when we least deserve it (or expect it) helps turn us away from sin. It convicts us in life-changing ways. As Father Joseph Corpora says, “We think that we are saved when we get it right, when we stop sinning, when we become perfect. But the exact opposite is the truth. God saves us through our sins, through our imperfections, through our faults, through our failings, through our weaknesses. God saves us as sinners, not as saints.” Your child won’t learn about mercy from a merciless world, so teach at home. Share the parable of the Prodigal Son. Emphasize God’s grace. Admit your
own mistakes and tell them how God carried you. Criticize poor behavior or poor choices but not your child as a person. Ask your child how they would handle a situation if they could do it over again. Remind them that who they’re becoming matters more than who they’ve been in the past. And when your child fails, walk with them through the fallout. Remember how we are all one bad decision away from stepping off a cliff. Even when discipline or correction is needed, you can present it in a way that builds hope and trust. You can take your cues from a God who gives us all more than we deserve. Some days I find it hard to believe how callous and irrational our world has become. I see witch hunts on social media that declare an offense from 20 years ago absolutely unforgivable. Society has become a courtroom, and collective rage is the reigning drug, but thankfully, God gets to be the ultimate judge. He knows every heart and hidden agenda and takes
it all into account. Again, your child won’t learn about mercy from a merciless world, so teach it at home. Remember your mistakes before responding to their mistakes. Most importantly, create a space that lets people be humans. Build life-giving relationships inspired by the hope of the Gospel and the promise of what’s to come. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Birmingham-area mom of four girls, author, speaker and blogger. Her new book for moms, “Love Her Well: 10 Ways to Find Joy and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter,” is now available on Amazon, Audible and everywhere books are sold. Kari’s two books for teen and tween girls — “Liked” and “10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know” — have been used widely across the country for small group studies. Join Kari on Facebook and Instagram, visit her blog at karikampakis.com or find her on the “Girl Mom” podcast.
Opinion Sean of the South By Sean Dietrich
Proof of love, shared through biscuits I am saying grace before supper. And a lot is going through my mind. Namely because we are eating biscuits tonight. And I love biscuits. When I am done saying this blessing, I will experience one of the best feelings on planet Earth. Which is peeling open one of my wife’s hot, handmade catheads. Steam will rise from the soft bread to kiss me square on the nose. And I will swear I can almost hear the Vienna Boys Choir singing “Ave Verum Corpus” somewhere in the distance. I have a long childhood history with biscuits. The day after my father’s funeral I remember awaking to find our kitchen covered in a fine dusting of Gold Medal flour. There were old coffee cans of lard on counters, and matronly women in beehive hairdos. The oven had transformed the kitchen into a sauna. The sound of female chatter was like the sound of geese on a pond. I sniffed the air. Hallelujah. They were making biscuits. After a funeral you have a lot of food around. This happens when someone you love dies. Church ladies with solemn faces show up at odd hours to leave hot pans on your porch, or shoeboxes of fried chicken, or Tupperware containers with note cards attached to the lids. And you receive a lot of biscuits. This is because the American biscuit is not something that merely sits in a bread basket, covered with gingham. A real biscuit is true. It is something real. Next time you eat a biscuit, think of the hands that mixed the flour. Human hands
that have seen their share it never quits lunging of pain, and loss and life. at you. Just when you See the fingers flex when think you’re through the they knead lard into hard parts, there are more the ivory dough. Watch bumps over the next hill. But biscuits, they make the dusty palms use an upside-down cup to stamp life into art. each one. They are more than Verily. This is love. they seem. They are the The ironic thing is, stuff prayers are made of. after my father’s funeral All food prepared with I didn’t feel like eating. tenderness is this way. I had no appetite. I had This bread comes to us Dietrich bleeding ulcers from the from another realm, even time I was 9 because of a though we don’t deserve crummy homelife. And after my father’s it, there it is. Proof that someone loves end, my nervous stomach only got worse. us. And do you know how they treated my Over the years, my wife’s biscuits have ulcers? Well, the first method was some- undergone subtle changes. They have thing called wax suppositories, which I varied in thickness and weight. They have firmly believe ought to be outlawed. grown softer, larger, smaller, fatter, richer, But the second treatment was soft, hot, more buttery, more flaky, more crumbly, golden-crusted, crumbly centered, butter- lighter. milk biscuits. Like them, my wife and I have also The women in my life took it upon undergone changes. We never had chilthemselves to heal me with food. Strange dren of our own, for instance, but we’ve old ladies appeared from the shadows had our share of dogs. with plates of food in hand. Had it not We got most of these pups when they been for these women, I would have were no bigger than softballs. We watched surely withered and died. them grow, we let them destroy our furniWhen I met my wife, one of the first ture, and we saw them into their late years things she ever cooked for me were fried when their snouts turned white. gizzards and biscuits. And on their final days, we held their We shoved these scalding hot gizzards heavy heads against our chests and told inside the steaming, floury biscuits, then them we loved them, through soaked and smashed the pieces together, slathered swollen faces, while a vet helped them them with butter, and ate until we were drift to sleep forever. ill. And I couldn’t quit grinning at the In other words, my wife and I have had supper table. a nice life. We’ve been to Mexico twice. Because, you see, life is jagged. And And we have seen the prairies of the
Midwest. We have eaten brisket in Texas, and seen the stars shine over the Grand Canyon like scattered snow on asphalt. We have walked the shores of Cape San Blas, tossed shells into the water of the Chesapeake, and dreamed aloud while looking at sunrises over the Appalachians. We are growing older. And it’s happening faster every day. I wish that time would slow down, but it doesn’t. One day, my joints will hurt more than they do now. One day, I will be whitehaired and need help getting out of my La-Z-Boy recliner. One day, we will be but shadows of the children we were. One day, I will be gone. But I can truly say that I have known the finest that this world can offer me. The hand of a lover and a friend. Tonight, I’m seated at a suppertable, holding that flour-covered hand. My head is bowed. If I were a painter, I’d put my whole heart into the greatest painting ever painted and give it to her. If I were a sculptor, I would carve something from the best and biggest piece of marble. If I were a builder, I’d give her Buckingham. But there is so little I can give, other than my beating heart. And these few words: “Bless this food, Lord. And bless the hands that prepared it.” Sean Dietrich is a columnist and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South. He has authored nine books and is the creator of the “Sean of the South” blog and podcast.
C14 • October 2021
280 Living
Calendar 280 Area Events Throughout October: Fall events at Old Baker Farm. 1041 Farmingdale Road, Harpersville. Pumpkin patch open through Oct. 31. Cowboy Days on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 10, from 1-5 p.m.; Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 6-9 p.m.; Festival Weekend, featuring local vendors selling handcrafted items, will be Oct. 23-24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission $11 ($10 cash) and includes a pumpkin. Children 1 year old and younger are free. oldbakerfarm.com. Oct. 10: Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike. Oak Mountain State Park. A moderate 4- to 5-mile walk in the woodlands. Meet at 1:45 p.m. in the OMSP office parking lot to depart at 2 p.m. Entrance fee $5/person ($2/ seniors). For information, call Randall Adkins at 205-317-6969. Oct. 16: Mt Laurel Fall Festival. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mt Laurel community. Featuring a farmers market, food trucks, live music, a kid’s zone, craft fair and vendors. mtlaurel.com/fall-festival-registration. Oct. 19: 2021 Fall Give and Gather Dinner benefiting King’s Home Shelby. 6 p.m. Inverness Country Club. Featuring a meal, cash bar, live auction, wine pull and dinner music. For tickets visit gather.givesmart.com or text gather to 76278. Oct. 23: OMSP Harvest Festival. Oak Mountain State Park. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors, children’s activities and more. Visit alapark.com/parks/ oak-mountain-state-park for more information. Oct. 29: Hoover Hayride and Family Night. 5-8 p.m. Veterans Park on Valleydale Road. At least six tractors pulling trailers filled with hay around a decorated path. Kids encouraged to dress in costumes, and food trucks will be onsite. Free. Parking will be available at Spain Park High School.
North Shelby Library Registration link: northshelbylibrary.evanced.info/signup/calendar FAMILY/ALL AGES Through Nov. 30: Autumn Family Geocaching Scavenger Hunt. The library will provide the clues and GPS coordinates. Registration required. Oct. 28: Drop-In Monster Pumpkin Decorating. 4-7 p.m. Bring your own pumpkin and drop by the Children’s Department to decorate. STORYTIME
KIDS/TEENS Oct. 9: Lego Day. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11: Teen Book Club. 5 p.m. Oct. 12: Virtual Music & Books Club. 5:30 p.m. Oct. 23: KZT Hands On S.T.E.A.M. Day. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ADULTS
Oct. 21: Virtual Zoom Pajama Jam Storytime. 6:30 p.m. Registration required. CHILDREN Beginning Oct. 1: Activity Bundles. Designed for pre-K through first grade. Includes a themed picture book to borrow and an activity bundle with eight worksheets. Beginning Oct. 1: Monthly Craft Kitto-Go. This month, in celebration of “Star Wars” Reads Month, create a cardboard tube Ewok. Beginning Oct. 1: Monthly STEM Kitto-Go. This month, in celebration of “Star Wars” Reads Month, create a cardboard tube Ewok. Oct. 1-31: “Star Wars” Reads Month. Stop by the Children’s Department to pick up a “Star Wars” themed activity sheet, and to participate in a “Star Wars”-themed scavenger hunt for a chance to win a “Star Wars” book. Tuesdays: Tech Tuesdays. 3:30 p.m. Weekly drop in tech-based activity. Oct. 20: K-5th Homeschool Hangout
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Oct. 20: K-5th Homeschool Art Craft Kit-to-Go. 1 p.m. Constellation art. Registration required.
Oct. 20: Teen Homeschool Art Kitto-Go. 2 p.m. Registration required. Oct. 23: Teen Volunteer Day. Help the library and earn community service hours. Limited to five volunteers per day. Registration required.
Oct. 29: Trick or Treat at the Library. Each department will have candy and allergy-friendly treats to share. Costumes are welcome but not required.
Oct. 23: Teen Council presents “Zombies, Ahhhh! Escape Room.” 6 p.m. Registration required. Oct. 28: Teen Virtual Painting. 6 p.m. Sign up for a take-home kit and video link to participate in a fall-themed painting. Registration required.
Available Oct. 1: Tween Activity Kit – Leaf String Art. Stop by the Children’s Department and pick up a kit to decorate your own leaf string art.
ADULT
Tuesdays: Tween Minecrafternoons. 4 p.m. Join other tweens on the library’s Minecraft Realm. Patrons must have their own supported version of Minecraft at home in order to play. Registration required.
Oct. 4: Meow at Moonlight – Painting Night. 6-8 p.m. All supplies included. This will be an in-person event. Light refreshments served.
Oct. 14: Tween Writing Club with Ms. Emma. 4 p.m. Join YA fantasy author Emma Fox for a fun writing club just for tweens. In person and via Zoom. Registration required. Oct. 21: Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club. 4 p.m. In person and via Zoom. Registration required.
Oct. 6 and 18: Language Club. 6 p.m. Oct. 11: “Batty Reading” Virtual Painting Kit-to-Go. 10 a.m. Paint “Desert Reading.” Registration required. In person or via YouTube. Oct. 16: All Senses Go – Writing Program. 10 a.m. to noon. Learn how to express all five senses in your writing.
TEEN
Oct. 21: NSL Book Club. 10:30 a.m. Discussing “God’s of Jade and Shadow” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Registration required.
Oct. 4 and 18: Teen Dungeons and Dragons. 6 p.m. Oct. 4 and 18: Teen Chess Club. 4 p.m.
Oct. 26: True Crime Digital Book Club. 6 p.m. Covering true crime books and documentaries. Registration required.
Oct. 14: Minecraft PVP Tournament. 6 p.m. Registration required.
Mt Laurel Library FAMILY Through Nov. 30: Autumn Family Geocaching Scavenger Hunt. The library will provide the clues and GPS coordinates. Registration required. Oct. 1-30: Book in a Jar. What spooky shredded book is in the jar? Guess right and you’ll be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Oct. 16: Friends of the Mt Laurel Library Sidewalk Book Sale. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CHILDREN
Oct. 11: Medicare Info. 4 p.m. Oct. 14: Book Club. 10 a.m.
Oct. 20: Teen Homeschool Hangout – Creepy Collaborative Writing. 1-3 p.m.
TWEENS (AGES 8-12)
Oct. 13 and 27. Virtual Family Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Registration required.
Chelsea Public Library
– Origami Rockets. 1-2:30 p.m. Learn how to make a simple origami rocket. Registration required.
Oct. 1 and 15: Toddler Tales. 10 a.m.
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Intended for ages 19-36 months and a caregiver. Come enjoy stories, songs and finger plays. Programming will be in-person outside, weather permitting. In case of adverse weather, virtual programming via Zoom will be offered. Registration required.
Oct. 21: Robot Spiders. 4 p.m. Registration required.
Oct. 9: Crafty Saturday. 10 a.m. Stop by to make a craft at the library.
ADULT
Oct. 28: Pumpkin Painting. 4 p.m. Registration required.
Oct. 18-22: Pumpkin Mini Canvas Art. Make artwork at the library or take it as a to-go kit. Registration required.
Oct. 7: Mt Laurel Book Club. 7 p.m. Discussing “The Shadowy Horses” by Susanna Kearsley.
Oct. 23: LEGO Club. 11 a.m. Explore, create and build with Lego and Duplo blocks.
Oct. 14: Cookie Decorating. 7 p.m. With Taylor from Taylor Made Cookies. Each participant will get to decorate three to four cookies to take home. Registration required.
Oct. 30: Trick or Treat. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by the library to trick-or-treat.
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October 2021 • C15
Nature. Smart Living. Art + Design. ART BY: Yvonne Miller & Stefan Hochhuber
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Bedzzz Express Outlet Greystone
Bedzzz Express Outlet Pelham
Hwy. 280 Next to Issis & Sons
3 Doors South of Pee Wee’s Pawn
408-1250
664-0096
Text, Call Or Visit To Shop Today • Private Appointments Available • Buy Local. Buy Online. Same Low Prices Open Monday - Friday 10am - 7pm • Saturday 9am - 6pm • Sunday 1pm - 6pm bedzzzexpress.com
*Offers cannot be combined. Some promotions may be limited to select sets. Not responsible for errors in ad copy. Quantities and selections may vary by location. Mattress images are for illustration purposes only Gifts with purchase (including gift cards and rebates) are not valid with any other promotions except special financing for 6 or 12 months. 0% APR for 60 months financing available with purchases of $1999 or over and does not include sales tax. **Monthly payment is based on purchase price alone excluding tax and delivery charges. Credit purchases subject to credit approval. Other transactions may affect the monthly payment. ***The Nationwide Marketing Group credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit. The special terms APR will continue to apply until all qualifying purchases are paid in full. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the promotional (special terms) period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. This information is accurate as of 9/14/2021 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921. Offer expires 11/2/2021. **** Free base offer applies to Queen set purchase of $799 and above or King set purchase $999 and above. King base applies to either one horizontal King Base or one of two TXL bases.***** Free Delivery on mattress sets $699 and up, Local area.