280 Living
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neighborly news & entertainment
April Features
Volume 5 | Issue 2012 | April 20128 | April |
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2400 Acton Road Birmingham, AL 35243 (205) 978-7030
Oak Mountain’s Dahl has New light major league talent system to
address 280 traffic
By MADOLINE MARKHAM
the Birmingham area, but the nation. For him though, it is not all about the hype. “I don’t keep up with it all honestly,”
The timing of lights on Highway 280 will soon allow for traffic to flow with less congestion. A new traffic signal system will use surveillance cameras to read traffic volume and monitor the traffic flow. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is now completing plans for this Adaptive Control System with hopes to implement it this fall. “ALDOT is still looking at an elevated highway plan, but that would be 10 years down the road,” said ALDOT Division Engineer Brian Davis. “We have to do something to get 280 more passable now, and we know this is the best thing to do for today and tomorrow and next month. I think this [Adaptive Control System] is the most innovative signal system there is.” “We don’t always have to choose the first sexy choice for it to be a good choice,” said Greg Wingo, public affairs officer at the Regional
See DAHL | page A11
See 280 TRAFFIC | page A13
Home Guide- Section B Editor’s note
A4
Local runs and festivals
A6
Recycling tips
A8
Rebuilding after tornadoes
A9
Spring shoes
A10
People You Should Know
A11
Recipes for springtime
A12
Ministry Spotlight
A13
Restaurant Showcase
A15
Business Spotlight
A16
280 Business Happenings A17 Calendar of Events
A18
Summer Camps
B5
School House
B6
Sports
B10
Paul Johnson
B13
Library Happenings
B14
Kari Kampakis
B15
Rick Watson
B15
Auburn commitment and MLB prospect David Dahl played on Team USA at the Pan-American games in Colombia. He is a senior at OMHS. Photo courtesy of the Dahl family.
By PATRICK THOMAS There are good players. And then, there are premier players. David Dahl falls under that last category. In his final season of high school, David is one of the most coveted baseball prospects out of not only
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Church at Brook Hills pastor and author David Platt teaches a crowd of 2,300–and thousands more worldwide—at a previous Secret Church. The next event will be held on Good Friday, April 6. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Whitt.
By CRAIG KLEIMEYER On Friday, April 6 thousands of people all over the world will spend their Friday night not movie watching or sharing dinner with family or friends— but taking six hours to study the Bible and what it
says about suffering. At the heart of the night is the fact that churches in many countries are forced to meet in secret because of persecution, but the physical heart of it is right off Highway
119 at the Church at Brook Hills. Seeing firsthand the risks Christians in persecuted countries took to study the Bible led Brook Hills Pastor David Platt to start Secret Church, a sort of theological boot camp, in 2006. “We wanted to get together and not have all of the bells and whistles or big programming, but just make the Word the center,” said Communications Director for Disciple-Making International Angelia Stewart. Today the 2,300 seats at Brook Hills for a Secret Church event sell out in a couple of minutes. And that number is only a small fraction of the people tuning in to Secret Church through simulcast worldwide. At the last event in November, 22 groups in 14 other countries tuned in. In addition, around 75 groups in the Birmingham metro area and 55 churches and 127 small groups in Alabama gathered to watch. Platt’s book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, published in 2010, helped the word about Secret Church spread faster. “It’s been kind of organic and viral,” Stewart said. “It’s monumental, and it
See SECRET CHURCH | page A10
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Welcome Friends
280 Living neighborly news & entertainment
Eagle Point resident Mary Kennedy, pictured here with her husband, Andy, visited Oak Mountain Missions on the day a pallet of snack foods was delivered. She won the pallet as part of a contest from Sunbelt Foods this winter. The Mission (oakmtnmissions.com) provides food for families in need in the Shelby County area and is always seeking donations. Photo by Madoline Markham.
Staff & Friends Contributing Writers
Paul Johnson | Gary Andrich Patrick Thomas | Rick Watson | Kari Kampakis
High School Correspondents
Collier Kauffman | Tabitha Fulton | Becky Brinkerhoff
Contributing Photographers Cari Dean | Barry Clemons | Chris Mason
Interns Allie Klaubert | Brittney Harrison | Craig Kleimeyer
Publisher
Editor at Large
Dan Starnes
Joe Samuel Starnes
Creative Director
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Anna Cate Little | Erica Midkiff
Community Editor Kathryn Acree
Managing Editor Madoline Markham
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: madoline@280living.com
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Published by Starnes Publishing LLC
Contact Information: 280 Living P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205)-370-0732
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 communities along Highway 280 of area school, faith, 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. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 370-0732 or by email. Please recycle this paper
Editor’s Note
In a world where we get our news and nearly everything else instantaneously, Highway 280 moves like the Pony Express—both its snail-paced congestion and any hope for change that brings relief. But alas! We are excited to report that there is a new traffic light system coming that should make things better (see the cover story), and don’t’ fall out of your chair, but it’s supposed to go into place before the year ends. I often feel like our thoroughfare of headache is ignored, but Greg Wingo at the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham assured me that 280 is actually a huge focus of the Planning Commission. They have been watching the population shift from Jefferson out to Shelby County and are actively seeking long-term solutions for its transportation arteries, taking into account how our part of the county fits an outlook for the entire region. They ask that we be patient in the meantime. After talking with Wingo and Brian Davis at ALDOT, I really do believe things will get better…one day. Wingo said there will be news from the Planning Commission this summer on
a new plan for 280 transit, so keep reading us in print and checking www.280Living.com for the latest updates. And in the meantime, we’ll bring you stories of people around us who are making their mark not just along this crazy highway of ours but all over the country and world. OMHS senior David Dahl is nationally ranked for the MLB draft (cover), David Platt will teach to people worldwide on Good Friday (cover), churches are helping rebuild after tornado damage (A9), women from Double Oak Community Church are encouraging others in heart surgery recovery one pillow at time (A13). Also in this issue, read through for inspiration to recycle (A8); to sign up for a run or go to local festivals (A6-A7); to make the ultimate aromatic spread-of-summer, pesto (A13); or to start on some home projects (Section B). Happy spring! May your moments and days be full of new life and sunshine this season.
Meet our intern
Allie Klaubert is a sophomore at Samford University, pursuing a degree in public relations and marketing. An Atlanta native, Allie enjoys spending time on the lake with her family and exploring Birmingham with friends.
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Hop over to an egg hunt Mt Laurel Spring Festival
The heart of Mt Laurel comes alive during their Spring Festival. This year’s event is set for April 14.
Mt Laurel will once again welcome springtime at the Mt Laurel Spring Festival on Saturday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Festival events include a doggie dressup event with prizes for the top three winners, a farmers market and craft fair,
Easter egg hunters at Indian Springs Town Hall. Photo courtesy of Steve Zerkis.
Easter egg hunts planned in the 280 area include: Indian Springs Town Hall On Saturday, April 7, Indian Springs will hold their 19th annual Easter egg hunt at the town hall off Cahaba Valley Road. The fun is planned for 3 p.m., and the egg hunt is open to children age 12 and under. Bring your own basket and be ready to hunt for eggs, trinkets, candy and cash prizes. In case of rain, please stop by between 3 and 4 p.m. to pick up a “goody” bag. If you would like to volunteer for the hunt, please contact Brenda Bell-Guerico at 9872581. Oak Mountain State Park Oak Mountain State Park will host its fifth annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 7. Activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with egg hunts scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. There will be face painting, hayrides, a moonwalk, cake hop and sack races. Park admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children age 6 to 11, and free for 5 and under. Activities, except the egg hunt and
sack races, require one ticket, which can be bought for $1 each at the Dogwood Pavilion. For additional information, contact Emily Cook at 620-2520.
The Easter bunny has been known to make an appearance at the Oak Mountain State Park egg hunt. Photo courtesy of Emily Cook.
inflatables, hay rides, music, face painting and concessions. Admission is free and the event will be held rain or shine. For additional information, go to www.mtlaurel.com or call 408-8696.
Italian Food Festival
An Italian Food Festival will be held on Saturday, April 28 to mark the Feast of St. Mark at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church off Highway 119. The event will begin at 2 p.m. and offer a food expo with main courses and appetizers from local restaurants including Joe’s Italian, La Dolce Vita, Mr. P’s Butcher Shop, Leonardo’s Restaurant, Lovoy’s, Trattoria Centrale and Amore’. Tickets for the expo building will be $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for children age 5 and under. Homemade Italian cookies and baked goods as well as a freshly filled cannoli station will also be available. The festival will also feature entertainment from accordion players, a jazz quartet and traditional Italian dances. For children and youth, there will be a Youth Piazza offering pizza baking, Italian ice, face painting, children’s crafts and a DJ. Mass will be held at 4:30 p.m., and a bonfire finale will begin at 9:30 p.m. St. Mark is located at 7340 Cahaba Valley Road, at the corner of Cahaba Valley Road and Brook Highland Parkway behind
The ladies of St. Mark’s Catholic Church made pizelles together to prepare for their upcoming Italian Food Festival. Photo by Kathryn Acree.
the Shell Station. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www. italianfoodfest.org.
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280 Living | April 2012
Ready. Set. Cure. 5K The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is gearing up for the 2nd annual 5K at Oak Mountain State Park on April 14. “Ready. Set. Cure.” is a fundraiser created and executed by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Junior Board. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of patients’ lives and families of patients. The Society encourages you to come “run like a winner” and “cure like a champ” and join them for a morning of food, friends, live music and a run. Admission into the park is free, and the race will begin and end at the Dogwood
Pavilion. Registration begins at 7 a.m., the race starts at 8 a.m., and awards and door prize giveaways start at 9 a.m. Registration is $25 until March 31 and $30 from April 1 until the day of the race. Children 12 and under can participate for free. If you can’t participate on April 14, you can also support the cause with donations. If you have any questions or would like to become a corporate sponsor for the race, contact Meagan Yeilding at myeilding@ gmail.com. Register online by going to http:// www.active.com/5k-race/pelham-al/ readysetcure-2012 or contact Meagan Yeilding. Registration closes on Thursday, April 12 at midnight.
Celebrate Hoover Day comes to Veterans Park Celebrate Hoover Day will be held Saturday, May 5 from 1:30-5:30 p.m. at Veterans Park on Valleydale Road. The free event will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, a car show, exhibitor pavilion, complimentary pie from Jefferson State, and more. A Kids Zone will offer inflatables, games, entertainment, a Birmingham Zoo exhibit, drafts, soccer demonstrations, cotton candy and face
painting. There will also be appearances by Dora, Diego and the Barkyardigans. An American Red Cross Blood Drive will also be running during the festivities. At 1:30 p.m. the Veterans Memorial Plaza will be dedicated, and there will be an Iwo Jima re-enactment. For more information on the event, visit www.hooveral.org or call 444-7500.
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Walk for Autism and 5K Race to Solve the Puzzle The Autism Society of Alabama will hold a two-mile awareness walk and 5K Race to Solve the Puzzle at Veterans Park on Valleydale Road on April 28. Strollers, wagons and kids of all ages are welcome for the walk. For the 5K there will be awards for each category. The society encourages participants to form teams with friends, family and coworkers. The event will feature food, bounce houses, kids activities, resource exhibitors and more after the race.
The 5K starts at 7:30 a.m. with checkin and registration opening at 7 a.m. The walk starts at 9 a.m. with check-in and registration opening at 8:30 a.m. Preregistration is $25 per person, and day-of registration is $30 per person. Preregistrants can pick up packets Friday, April 27 at the Autism Society of Alabama Office, 4217 Dolly Ridge Road, 35243. For more information or to register, visit walkforautismal.com.
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Culinary delights from local vendors abound at the fifth annual Taste of Shelby County on April 12. Photo courtesy of the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce.
for those that would like to dine and dance the night away. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.shelbychamber.org for $25 or $30 at the door. Tickets are also available at the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce office. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Greater Shelby County Education Foundation. For more information, please contact the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce at 663-4542.
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The Greater Shelby County Education Foundation and Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce are hosting the fifth annual Taste of Shelby County on Thursday, April 12 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center, 3660 Grandview Parkway. There will be a multitude of vendors from all over Shelby County and the surrounding areas offering a “taste” of specialty dishes from their menus. Vendors include restaurants, wineries, caterers and more. The evening will be filled with music
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280 Living
Let’s recycle! OMHS student initiates recycling program By KATE AGLIATA Students and employees at Oak Mountain High School now have access to more than 100 recycling bins school-wide. This is not your average recycling program, because its founder, Myrah Taylor isn’t your average high school student. Since joining the Girl Scouts of America as a Brownie in her early childhood, Myrah has always been motivated by the organization’s “Leave No Trace Behind” motto. She first became involved with recycling efforts by collecting phone books in an effort to keep them from ending up in a landfill. Now a Senior Girl Scout, Myrah said she reached a point where she faced accepting the challenge of working toward the Girl Scout’s Gold Award, the highest service award for the organization. “I looked around my community to see how I could impact it,” she said. “Recycling was something I was used to doing, and I realized that our school did not have a program.” After her initial proposal for the recycling program met approval through Joan Doyle, principle of OMHS, and science teacher Tim Evans agreed to be her project advisor, Myrah began extensive work to generate additional community support and funding for the bins and disposal services. She met with several local business leaders, including Robert Kelly, manager of Shelby County Environmental Service, in an effort to work out many of the program’s details. The issue of expense did occasionally raise concern for Myrah during the program’s development, yet with the help and support of many community businesses, she was able to raise enough grant money to purchase the bins and detail them with the recycle symbol. The greatest donation however, was offered by Waste Pro, which committed their bi-weekly recycling pick up services to OMHS at no expense. The program is currently just for paper recycling, but Myrah hopes to eventually expand and allow for plastic and metal recycling as well. For now, however, her goal for the program is to begin raising more awareness among her peers, and within the community regarding the
Myrah Taylor started a recycling program at OMHS. Photo courtesy of the Taylor family.
benefits of recycling. “When we recycle 2000 pounds of paper, we save 17 trees,” Myrah said. “If one classroom recycles three pounds of paper per week, and we have 96 classrooms, how many trees do we save a week, a month, a school year?” Myrah said the response so far has been positive. “The students are actively participating, and coming up to me from time to time to tell me they are recycling both at school and at home.” Although at times the process proved to be challenging, Myrah remained dedicated toward achieving her goals. Doing so not only afforded her the opportunity to prove her leadership skills but to also help make a significant impact on her community. “I hope that everyone starts to think about our planet and how we can keep it healthy,” she said. After graduation from OMHS, Myrah plans to attend college and said she’ll continue work to raise awareness within her community about environmental concerns.
What to Know to Recycle What items can be recycled? Any paper product is acceptable for recycling. This includes notebooks, boxes and copy paper even if it is colored. Students may also include books and binders. They can throw the whole binder into the bin even if it has metal rings. The only caveat is that food must not be in the paper product; so all food products must be wiped off before recycling.
The Birmingham Zoo is reaching new heights with the opening of the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter this spring. Stroll through one of the largest giraffe habitats in the Southeast and take the opportunity to feed one of the giraffes. Create a memory that will last a lifetime.
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How can you recycle at home? Waste Management offers a curbside recycling service for residents of unincorporated Shelby County. Call the company and ask for curbside recycling. The service provides a 64-gallon can, and pickup is every two weeks. A fee around $5 fee per month is added to your trash bill. Myrah hopes that everyone considers recycling at home. To subscribe to Waste Management’s recycling pickup service, call 841-2740. To learn more about their recycling program, visit www.thinkgreen. com.
Carrollights Celebration at OLV The John Carroll Catholic High School PTO will sponsor the 8th Annual Carrollights Celebration on April 28 from 6 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Our Lady of the Valley Social Hall. This event is the primary fundraiser for the JCCHS PTO and has raised thousands of dollars over the years dedicated to improving the quality of the school. Past years’ events have provided funds for ELMO classroom projectors, language labs, and new desks for the students. The Carrollights Celebration will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing to the
music of the Birmingham Rhythm Kings, live and silent auction items and the announcement of the winner of the Free Tuition Raffle. Auction items include a trip to Rome, wine tasting in your home accompanied by JCCHS principal Fr. John McDonald, an Auburn game/Lake Martin weekend, and an Alabama football helmet signed by the national championship team. Carrollights tickets and raffle tickets are available on the JCCHS website at www.jcchs.org. For information, call chairperson Laura Meineke at 516-3265 or email at meinekel@bellsouth.net.
280 Living
www.280living.com
| April 2012
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Connecting and rebuilding
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One year after April 27, local teams help in tornado impact area By KATHRYN ACREE
Baptist has sent teams to work on Baptist Builders for Christ projects since the late 1990s and will send over 35 volunteers in June. More than 1,000 people from 48 different volunteer groups are expected to be a part of the Mountain View Baptist rebuilding project this summer. The church to be constructed secures the materials while the Baptist Builders for Christ teams serve as labor. “The program typically saves them [the church] hundreds of thousands of dollars in labor, “ said Howell. For Howell, a retired accountant, Meadow Brook Baptist’s team has given him new opportunities to serve. “It’s a blessing to be a part of this,” Howell said. “I’d always heard others talk about being involved in this program and
Baptist Builders for Christ teams review plans on a previous construction project. Photo courtesy of Meadow Brook Baptist Church.
it’s amazing the witness opportunities it offers. To be able to help in this as a volunteer, you’re blessed as much or more as those who are getting the new church.”
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An artist’s rendering of the new Mountain View Baptist Church in Phil Campbell. Local teams from area churches will volunteer on the rebuilding project this summer. Rendering courtesy of Lawrence Corley.
The sanctuary of Mountain View Baptist Church in Phil Campbell was completely destroyed on April 27, 2011. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Baker.
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are helping with the efforts to rebuild the Mountain View building through Baptist Builders for Christ. Founded by Birmingham architect Lawrence Corley in 1981, the organization coordinates volunteer groups to serve as labor in church building projects. Fortysix projects have been completed across the U.S., typically in areas where Baptist churches are growing and establishing often for the first time. Volunteers from these two 280 area churches will travel as “construction missionaries” to Phil Campbell at their own expense the week of June 11. “We primarily will work on finishing up the decking, putting shingles on the roof and to start doing air conditioning work,” said Ken Howell, coordinator of the team from Meadow Brook Baptist. “We will be there the week after the team from Brookwood Baptist in Mountain Brook finishes the framing.” Meadow Brook
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More than 250 deaths and scores more injuries from the April 27, 2011, tornadoes will forever be engrained in our memories. Phil Campbell, Ala., continues to mend from the EF-5 tornado that struck the town of 1000 residents in Franklin County. The tornado was so large that many survivors reported being in two tornadoes when in fact they felt the impact of the front edge of the storm, a few moments of calm, then a second blow from the back of the tornado. Mountain View Baptist Church on Highway 81 just outside of downtown Phil Campbell experienced utter destruction that day. In the wake of the storm, Sammy Taylor, pastor of the church for 33 years, led four funerals for church members the Sunday after the storm, but the church still held services in the parking lot that day. Services continued to be held in modular units on the site but will soon have a permanent home. Meadow Brook Baptist Church and Valleydale Church
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280 Living
YOUR SKIN AWAITS
Gary’s spring shoe finds
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Black-Leopard 986 by Tory Burch
Fluciana purple heel by B-Brian Atwood
Vernice 9 coral wedge by Prada
Pathos cork wedge by Jimmy Choo
By GARY ANDRICH Spring and summer are all about new colors, new materials and having your girlfriends say, ”You look terrific in those shoes!” You’re talking about and planning trips to the beach, the lake, family reunions and high school/college reunions. You’re going to be wearing fun skirts, shorts, tops and the perfect pair of shoes can complete the look that you want and give your entire outfit the “pop and personality” that will make you look terrific. In today’s world everyone is busy with everything, so rather than provide more clutter for the fashion section of your brain, I wanted to focus on four things to look for this season. Coral. This is the color for spring/ summer 2012. A shoe, sandal or wedge in coral is the perfect complement to a neutral color theme designers are showing in clothes. Remember Gary’s fashion rule #1: big, bright colors are fantastic in smaller doses, like shoes, sandals and wedges. Cork. You’re going to be seeing this material in all types of footwear. Cork is the new “neutral.” Instead of buying or pairing your outfit with a camel or tan shoe, use some type of cork. Cork is an easy and fun look for this season. Fashion flops. Love her or hate her, you cannot dismiss Tory Burch. Tory has been on the “sky rocket to stardom” for the past few years, and this season is no different. Under the category of “go big
or go home,” Tory always chooses her flip-flops for big, bold colors, patterns and designs. Your big night out. Put on heels from this season like B-Brian Atwood, and you’ll “own” the restaurant, club or bar when you walk in. Platform peep-toes starting at four inches are the rage for this spring and summer. They come in all styles, shapes and sizes—strappy, closed-heel, sling-back, etc. We’re seeing lots of nudes, neutrals, cork plus some big and bold colors like eggplant/purple and neon-pink. Gary’s tips. After working in ladies shoes for more than ten years, I’ve learned these suggestions. Number one, don’t over think it. Try shoes, sandals and wedges that are different than what you’ve bought before. Remember in many, many cases a shoe looks much different on your foot than it does on display. Number two, all size 7s are not the same. A size 7 or whatever size your normally wear in a Tory Burch is going to fit differently than a size 7 in Prada, a size 7 Jimmy Choo, etc. It’s very rare that I see someone who is a size 7 in every designer. The designers are different, the factories are different. Unless you’re 10 minutes late for your private jet to the French Riviera, try the shoes on to make sure they fit you correctly. Gary Andrich has been working in the shoe department at Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit since 2001.
SECRET CHURCH
CONTINUED from page A1
doesn’t get old.” When Secret Church first started, it was not publicized much—the church announced it at the services and posted information about it on the web. About 1000 people came to the first event. Jenny Clark, who lives in Eagle Point subdivision, has been impressed by the five or six Secret Churches she has attended since 2007. She said that she started going to them “before it all became a craze.” “Knowing that it will last until at least midnight, and that people are here to study the Word for that many hours . . . it’s just amazing to me,” she said. “Instead of coasting along in our faith, it allows us to dig deeper.” Clark hopes that everyone can attend and experience a Secret Church and understand its mission. According to Stewart, people come in to Secret Church thinking it will be too long to sit down and that it lasts too late into the night, but then they will end up not wanting to leave. “People are hungry for the Word of God. They are hungry and want more,” she said. Good Friday’s Secret Church on The Cross and Suffering will focus on how the picture of Christ’s suffering on the cross addresses our questions about our suffering. Platt will focus on how the Gospel strengthens, sustains, supports and satisfies us in the middle of suffering. At each Secret Church, The Brook Hills Global team chooses the prayer focus from connections that the church has all around the world. The night of April 6 will be focused on the Horn of Africa peninsula in east Africa. By the fourth Secret Church, the demands for tickets got greater, and they explored the idea of simulcasting it.
The first time Brook Hills offered the simulcast in 2008, a group tuned in from Cambodia. Worldwide, about 200 churches usually have simulcasts for Secret Church. Last year, a chaplain for the Army was teaching a small group in Afghanistan and wanted to have a simulcast for them there, so Brook Hills reached out to them. There have been simulcasts as far away as India, Indonesia, Hawaii, Mexico and the Cayman Islands. Some places cannot be named due to persecution in their countries. Secret Church sessions have been translated into 10 languages now, and six are available for download on the website. Past sessions on topics such as “Who is God?”, “A Survey of the Old Testament” or “How to Read the Bible” are available for free download or for purchase on DVD and CD on the site so they can be taken to any place. Secret Church’s mission is not to just teach those who are present but for those who are taught to share what they learn with their neighbors, coworkers, friends and whoever they meet wherever they are. “We want people to take what they’ve learned out of the context of church,” Stewart said. “Secret Church is meant to keep going.” For more information on how to broadcast the event to a church or home, visit www. disciplemakingintl.org/secretchurch/. Local churches including Christ Church United Methodist and Meadow Brook Baptist are hosting simulcasts of the event. To find the latest list of simulcast locations, visit www. lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Secret-ChurchSimulcast-with-David-Platt?type=events. A small fee is charged to cover the cost of materials.
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280 Living | April 2012
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People you should know Breakfast with the Doc Jane Hampton Treating Knee Arthritis Friday, April 20 8:00-9:00 a.m.
Shelby County Board of Education Member; Retired educator; Shelby County Arts Council Board of Directors
By KATHRYN ACREE If you’ve spent any time in the Oak Mountain school zone in past years, the name Jane Hampton probably rings a bell. The Highland Lakes resident retired as principal of Oak Mountain Elementary in 2008, having served as an educator with Shelby County Schools for 37 years. She hasn’t slowed down since retiring though. We sat down with her to talk about the school system so dear to her and her new role with the Shelby County Arts Council. Tell us a little about your first teaching position. I was fresh out of Auburn having been raised in Tuscumbia when I taught third grade at Valley Elementary in 1971 under then principal Dr. Norma Rogers. Shelby County was, of course, nothing like it is today but was on the verge of growth. Valley was in desperate need of some playground equipment, and we went to the developer of the Chandalar subdivision being constructed in Pelham and asked them to let us have any of those huge precast concrete pipes they might have left over to make do as a playground. We were creative even back then when funds were tight! Where did you go after Valley Elementary? Shelby was really growing in the north end of the county, and I went to the then new Inverness Elementary to teach second grade. I went back to school at Montevallo and earned my masters and later became an assistant principal at Inverness. I then moved to Oak Mountain Elementary, where I was principal for 11 years. You were one of the “true believers” when it came to the construction of Oak Mountain High School. Share some of the efforts that made that possible.
Join Jody Ortega, M.D., with Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen as he discusses treatment options for knee arthritis. Don’t Jane Hampton
It seems like a long time ago now, but I was part of a core group that canvassed the school zone door-to-door to convince homeowners that a property tax increase was needed to ensure the high school would be built. At that time, our students were driving to Pelham or Chelsea for high school, and we needed Oak Mountain. It finally passed, and construction began in 1998. What led to your decision to run for a seat on the school board? My retirement was, it turned out, not going to be spent reading books at the beach! I was encouraged to throw my hat in the ring in 2010 and run for Place One that was coming open on the Shelby County School Board. With support and continued encouragement, I won, and I’m thrilled to be serving now. My passion is working for what is best for the children of our county. Randy Fuller has great vision as superintendent, and I’m excited for what the future holds. What is on the horizon for the Shelby County Arts Council? The Arts Council seeks to promote art programs and assisting artists. They are working toward the construction of a 25,000-square-foot Community Arts Center in cooperation with the City of Columbiana and Shelby County. They serve the entire community to expand the arts and cultural organizations.
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DAHL
CONTINUED from page A1 said David, who committed to Auburn in the fall of his sophomore year at Oak Mountain High School. “There is always a lot of talk at school, but we don’t talk about it at home.” David experienced a whirlwind of accolades and draft projections for Major League Baseball in the past year. He has been projected as high as No. 10 by Baseball America and No. 15 by mymlbdraft.com. In David’s case, he does not give too much thought to the possibilities. “These mock drafts are put out by so many different services,” said Kelli Dahl, David’s mother. “So we try not to pay too much attention.” Dahl, a centerfielder for the Eagles, has been playing varsity baseball since his freshman year. He has been named Honorable Mention All-State; first team All-State; Shelby County Hitter of the Year; and All-Metro as a junior when he batted .449 with 18 doubles, two home runs, 40 runs scored, 53 hits and 35 RBIs. David was invited to the Perfect Game National Showcase in the summer of 2011 with around 200 players from around the nation. Most prospects would cringe at the strenuous rigor of 60-yard sprints, clocked throws and batting practice at the showcase. David ran a 6.49 in the 60 and threw 95 mph from right field. Not bad for a 17-year-old high schooler. “I like seeing the competition,” David said. “It is good to see other people at that level.” Despite being out sick for six weeks and missing the majority of the Perfect Game showcase, David received an invitation to play in the Perfect Game Classic in San
Diego in August. That is after he went .714 at the plate after two days with two triples and two runs scored. David’s virtuoso performance in the Perfect Game Classic brought the 6-foot, 2-inch, 195-pound senior an invite to play on the USA National team in November in Colombia, where they went undefeated to win the Pan American games. The Five-Tool Prospect’s success is no fluke. His five-day a week workout regimen in the offseason and hours in the batting cage have paid off. He attributes that success largely to his father. “My dad pushed me tremendously,” said David, who first played T-ball at four. “We have spent hours upon hours in the batting cages.” In this final high school experience, David wants to have the best season he can: “I just want to go as far as possible. It will be interesting.” As of the final week of March, Oak Mountain is 13-9. David is off to a strong start, batting .382 with 26 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, one HR, and nine RBIs. From his leadoff batting position, he has achieved a .528 on-base percentage that has enabled him to score 26 runs while drawing 21 walks and stealing 16 bases. Amidst the hoopla over high draft possibilities, David has stayed firm in his commitment. For now, Dahl’s choice to attend Auburn is solid until a final decision is made June 4-6, the dates for the MLB draft. “My hopes for David are to enjoy college life to the fullest,” said Kelli. “If anything should change that, it will also be a blessing as well.”
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| April 2012
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Recipes for springtime Stuffed artichokes, pesto pasta By LISA CULOTTA JOHNSEY Springtime is my favorite time of year for many reasons. It is a time of renewal. Trees and flowers bloom, we celebrate Easter, and of course, all of the fresh vegetables and foods come back into season. One of my family favorites is artichokes. My mother has been making this recipe with a breadcrumb stuffing for years. Recently, we were talking about how my grandmother made them with ham and onions and mushrooms along with the breadcrumbs and garlic. I started playing with the recipe and came up with my own twist. My family loves it paired with a salad and some crusty bread for a full meal. Another springtime favorite is basil. I make my own pesto and use it in so many ways, from sauces for pasta and pizza to dip for chips. Here, I have made some pasta with asparagus and peas. The asparagus are blanched and shocked in ice water to retain their crispy green color and texture. Again, we pair the pasta with a salad and crusty bread for a great meal. This can also be a side dish served with grilled chicken or fish. I hope you enjoy these family springtime favorites from my table to yours. Happy spring. Mom’s Kicked-Up Artichokes 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound baby bella mushrooms, chopped 1 onion, diced 5 cloves garlic, chopped 5 slices prosciutto, diced
Pesto Pasta with Peas and Asparagus. Photos by Lisa Johnsey.
½ loaf French bread, sliced and processed into bread crumbs Parsley, to taste, chopped ½ cup Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 4 artichokes, trimmed and cleaned 2 cups white wine 1 cup water In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté the mushrooms, onions and garlic. Cook stirring often until vegetables are tender. Put mixture in a bowl, allow to cool and add prosciutto, parsley, cheese, bread crumbs and salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Pull apart the leaves of the artichokes
Artichokes filled with mushrooms, onion, prosciutto and bread crumbs.
to open them slightly where there is space between the leaves. Stuff the mixture between the leaves. Put artichokes in a heavy-bottomed, oven-safe pot. Add the wine and water. Drizzle olive oil over the tops of the artichokes. Place pan over medium heat and cover and bring to a simmer for about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for another 45 minutes or until tender. Serve immediately. Pesto Penne 2-3 cups fresh basil, washed and dried ¼ cup parsley 3-4 cloves garlic ¼ cup pine nuts ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated ½ cup Romano cheese, grated
Olive oil Put garlic and pine nuts in food processor and pulse 3-4 times. Add basil leaves and parsley and pulse until combined with garlic and nuts. Add cheeses and pulse again to combine. With the processor running, add enough olive oil to make a thick mixture. Boil pasta. Drain and add pesto. Stir to coat pasta. For Pesto Pasta with Peas and Asparagus: Place asparagus in boiling water for a few minutes and then immerse in ice water to retain the green color. After you have stirred in the pesto, add the asparagus and some frozen peas. (The heat of the pasta will warm the peas).
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Ministry Spotlight Heart to Heart
A group gathers at Double Oak Community Church each month to make and pray over special pillows for heart surgery patients. Front row: Amelia Fore, Lori Willis, Madge Noland, Lillian Shannon. Back row Nanette Horsley, Linda Garrett, Joyce Cary, Patricia Shuttleworth, Becky Benoit. Photos by Brittney Harrison.
By BRITTNEY HARRISON Each day thousands of people undergo heart surgery in the United States. Amelia Fore’s husband, Ed, was one of them. After his triple bypass surgery, he was given a chest pillow to aid with coughing and sneezing pain. Throughout his recovery time, Fore witnessed the significance and comfort this pillow provided her husband. It was Ed’s experience that propelled his wife to start what is now known as Heart to Heart Ministries. Since 2010 a group has gathered at Double Oak Mountain Community Church on the first Wednesday of each month to make 30 or more heart-shaped pillows for patients who have had open heart surgery
Robin’s Sewing Shoppe Manager Nannette Horsley and Heart to Heart founder Amelia Fore hold pillows they crafted during the March Heart to Heart gathering.
at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Christine Hollingsworth, an ovarian cancer survivor and volunteer with Heart to Heart, spoke of her experience with surgery and the taxing recovery process. “Unless you’ve ever had surgery you don’t know the need,” she said. “This pillow became my best friend.” In addition to Double Oak, Heart to Heart is also sponsored by the Ladies at Northlake and Robin’s Sewing Shoppe. “I jumped in whole heartily,” said Robin’s Manager Nanette Horsley. After her father had open heart surgery in 2006, Horsley also noticed how much her father loved and needed his cough pillow. “People don’t really think one person can make a difference, but one person really can,” said Madge Noland, women’s ministry coordinator at Double Oak. The pillows Heart to Heart makes are handmade and prayed over. “They have a personal touch, and that makes all the difference,” said Horsley. Heart to Heart Ministries is always looking for more volunteers. “You don’t need to know how to sew,” Fore said, “We need people to stuff pillows and cut fabric too!” For more information about how you can get involved with Heart to Heart visit: http://www.doubleoakcc.org/ adults/women-s-ministry/heart-to-heartministry/. In May, Heart to Heart will be holding their meeting at Robin’s Sewing Shoppe’s Hoover location.
280 TRAFFIC
CONTINUED from page 1 Planning Commission. “We have to find the best way to move people from point A to point B.” The current light system works on a predetermined timing plan, with several plans for different times of the day or for special events. Davis said this system works at 99.9 percent of locations, but is not best for Highway 280. Instead of a predetermined plan, the new Adaptive Control System will constantly be changing according to the existing traffic. “The advantage is it lets you have hundreds of possibilities that are adjusting all day long,” Davis said. With the new system, some side streets will have less green time. “To fix the real problem, we have to give more green time to 280,” Davis said. “It’s a fine balancing act. We hope that those on
side streets don’t feel tremendous impact.” Wingo noted that the cameras will only be used for traffic control, not for any police monitoring. Federal and state funds are in place for the light project as a part of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) through the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham. Wingo and Davis both believe this system will improve traffic flow along the corridor. “I hope it will be a tremendous improvement,” Davis said. “Highway 280 is a very unique animal. It’s so different at different times of the day, so I think a system that reads the demand all day and adjusts itself all day is the right system.”
Expo excitement at OMMS Oak Mountain Middle School invites the community to visit its annual Expo. The event features carnival rides, games and concessions from Kissel Entertainment. Public sessions run Friday, April 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, April 14 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
and Sunday, April 15 from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets will be available to purchase for individual rides or armbands for admission to all rides. The Expo is OMMS’ major fundraiser for the year.
Mon-Fri 7:30 am–5:45 pm Sat 8am–2 pm, Sun closed Extended Hours Available by Appointment
Look for us at our new location at Lee Branch this Spring
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280 Living
Your Health Today By Dr. Irma Palmer
Maybe you’re familiar with the hit show “Mythbusters” that airs on Discovery. The show’s hosts and team members take common scientific myths and put them to the test. This month, I’m going to do the same with myths about chiropractic, to bust what I believe are the most common misconceptions about chiropractic care. Let’s start with science and Myth #1: Chiropractic is not scientific. BUSTED! There are many studies that outline the efficacy, safety, and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care, and no, not all of them were done by chiropractors! Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., M.P.H., of the RAND Corporation made the following statement on ABC’s 20/20: “There are considerably more randomized controlled trials which show benefit of this (chiropractic care) than there are for many, many other things which physicians and neurosurgeons do all the time.” And speaking of physicians, let’s look at Myth #2: Chiropractors are not real doctors. BUSTED! A chiropractic college grants a D.C. (Doctorate of Chiropractic) degree which follows a curriculum that is extremely rigorous and virtually identical to medical school curriculum. Chiropractors are licensed to practice only after passing national and state board exams and, like
medical doctors, are subject to the same type of testing procedures, licensing and monitoring by peer-reviewed boards. Now here’s a myth I hear all time, and it may be the one that drives me the craziest. Myth #3: Chiropractic is only effective for back pain. BUSTED! This couldn’t be further from the truth! Your nervous system controls everything that goes on in your body, and when there’s interference to your system, you will have health issues. Chiropractic care identifies where the interference is occurring, and through all-natural corrective care can minimize or eliminate the lack of correct function, resulting in pain and disorders. I’ve had literally hundreds of patients over the years come in for back pain only and after just a couple of visits find themselves amazed at how their overall health had improved… allergies, digestive issues, diabetes…you name it! Perhaps the other myth that causes MY blood pressure to rise is Myth #4: Chiropractic care is too expensive. BUSTED! In a wellness-oriented practice like mine, we focus on improving your health, not managing your sickness. To that end, we work towards restoring your health which actually SAVES you money (in fewer doctor visits, medicines, etc.)
Just Call Me a “Mythbuster”
Wellness-oriented chiropractic care is an investment in your health. Consumers don’t give a second thought to spending money on annual or bi-annual dental checkups, or annual trips to the eye doctor…yet we often think it’s too expensive to keep up good spinal hygiene! When you consider the incredible variety of health issues that stem from poor spinal hygiene, it becomes a no-brainer to make sure yours is checked and maintained! One of the myths that keeps people from coming in to see a chiropractor is Myth #5: Spinal adjustments hurt/I don’t want my bones cracked. BUSTED! Chiropractors don’t crack bones, and the adjustments themselves are not painful. On the contrary, many patients feel instant relief immediately after their spinal adjustment. So what makes the “popping” sound you hear when being adjusted? It’s the release of nitrous oxide gas that occurs when the manipulation opens the joint space. It’s certainly nothing to be afraid of! Finally, there’s a myth that requires a bit more explanation. Myth #6: Once you start going to a chiropractor, you have to go forever. Semi-BUSTED! Let me explain. If you come in for back or neck pain, chiropractic care will alleviate that pain within a set period of time and that
problem will be resolved, so in that sense, you do not HAVE to go forever. However, if your problem is chronic or recurrent, or if you want to avoid future problems, you will benefit from periodic care to stay ahead of the strain that accumulates as well as acute flare-ups. Think of it this way…just as it would be ridiculous to believe that visiting the dentist once per lifetime would ensure permanently healthy teeth and gums, it’s equally insane to think that visiting a chiropractor a few times will ensure a lifelong healthy spine. Our spinal tissues undergo daily stresses from many different sources…the environment, sleeping and postural habits, psychological stress and our hectic lifestyles, just to name a few. If you truly want to manage your health and not your sickness, then investing in lifelong spinal hygiene with a wellnessoriented chiropractor is a worthwhile investment. I hope I’ve busted some myths for you this month, and that you’ll call my office to see for yourself how beneficial chiropractic care can be for you and your family. And if you’ve got a myth I didn’t bust here, bring it on…I’m happy to play the role of chiropractic mythbuster any day of the year!
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Restaurant Showcase | April 2012
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Restaurant Showcase
Black Market Bar
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By MADOLINE MARKHAM
3411 Colonnade Parkway 967-8787 www.evilbartenders.com Monday, 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 3 p.m. - 3 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Saturday, 5 p.m.- 2 a.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.- 1 a.m.
Black Market Bar is, in a word, eclectic. The covered patio begs passersby to stop in for happy hour drink specials and an order of Baked Feta to share. Inside the Colonnade storefront, things are darker. The walls—just like the bar name—are throwbacks to film noir. Painted skateboards, posters from 1950s B movies, pinup girls, and art by Birmingham’s Megan Kimber and tattoo artist Kele Sparrowhawk fill the vertical space. Often visitors want to buy art off the walls, but the owners say it’s not for sale. “This is us,” said co-owner Elise Youngblood, who is also an artist, of the walls at Black Market. “Our houses look like this, too.” All the employees except Youngblood have tattoos. Unlike the owners’ first bar, Speakeasy, located downtown, Black Market has a full kitchen. It’s worth a visit for the bar or brunch menu alone. “Everyone is surprised by our food,” Youngblood said. “They expect bar food, but it’s really not. It’s better.” Greek Egg Rolls are filled with chicken, spinach and feta cheese and served with a creamy dipping sauce. An Asian Pork Wrap is stuffed with pork tenderloin and Asian slaw. The Black Angus Burger is topped with grilled mushrooms, onions, applewood-smoked bacon, spinach and
Black Market Owners George Cowgill and Elise Youngblood selected the eclectic artwork on the walls at Black Market. Photos by Madoline Markham.
The Greek Egg Rolls are a popular menu item at Black Market Bar at the Colonnade.
The Croissant Melts are served on the bar’s Sunday brunch menu.
Muenster cheese. “I don’t know what they do to [the burger], but it gets rave reviews,” said coowner George Cowgill. You’ll also find typical-yet-not bar
Grand Opening
food like queso, potato skins and the extra-good Phil’s (chicken) Fingers next to a Walnut Apple Salad with goat cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. All menu items cost $6-13, achieving the original and
upscale yet affordable selection the owners envisioned when they opened three years ago. Black Market’s Sunday brunch menu is decadent. The Breakfast Pizza tops a flattened biscuit with cheddar, white gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage and caramelized onions. You’ll also find Vanilla Cinnamon Pancakes, Shrimp and Grits, a Crab Cake Benedict, Croissant Melts made with raspberry preserves and Muenster cheese, and more. Mimosas are available in $10 pitchers. Whether you stop in for brunch or Friday lunch or happy hour or late night, Cowgill said the crowd at Black Market is always a diverse mix of people. With the spring weather, the happy hour will draw people out of work early for their 3-7 p.m. specials: $3 well drinks and $1 off bottled beers. All day they serve in-house specialty drinks and around 70 different beers, 16 of which are on tap. Black Market is especially proud of selling local brews from Good People and Avondale breweries. “We like to support local stuff because we are local,” Cowgill said.
Been Baby Bitten?
www.wanschinese.com
$5 OFF
purchase of $20 or more dinner and dine-in only, expires 4.30.12 995-5859 330 Inverness Corners
Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11:00-2:30 (Sat Closed) Dinner: Mon.-Thur. 4:30-10:00 • Fri. & Sat. 4:30-10:30 Sunday Lunch:11:00-2:30 Dinner: 2:30- 9:00 Banquet and party rooms available, call to reserve
995-5859 330 Inverness Corners, Inverness AL 35242
Khols Shopping Center, next to old Bruno’s and License Office
If you’ve never been “baby bitten”, then drop by Pastry Art Bake Shoppe today to experience the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of one of our original Baby Bites. Once “bitten”, we know you’ll be back to try all 20 flavors. NEW LOCATION! 940 Inverness Corners
205.995.5855 1927 29th Ave S | Homewood
205.877.3852
C R E AT I V E B A K E D G O O D S
A16
| April 2012
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Business Spotlight
Business Spotlight
Attic Antiques
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By ALLIE KLAUBERT
5620 Cahaba Valley Road 991-6887 Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Walking through the door of Attic Antiques spurs on memories of a by-gone era. Every piece of furniture, quilt or small trinket holds the story of its previous owner. For Attic Antique owners Barbara and Howard “Buzz” Manning, the store holds 47 years of memories of running a business together. In their early-married years, the couple would refinish items together as a hobby. “As a couple, you like to do things together, and [antiquing] is something that we both enjoy,” Barbara said. Between Buzz’s affinity for refinishing goods and Barbara’s keen eye for a good find, their hobby turned into a business in 1977 when the family began to build their 3,000-square-foot store, located on Highway 119 next to Oak Mountain Elementary School. “We just loved it so we incorporated it into our lives,” Manning said. After Buzz, an engineer by trade, designed the store, the Manning family worked together to build the establishment complete with hardwood floors and exposed beams. Manning designed the store to look like a home so customers can envision the piece in their own home. Attic Antiques specializes in American antiques, specifically furniture made of cherry, walnut and pine. The store carries antique quilts and lighting in addition to other treasures that Barbara pictures going into a lodge or waterfront home or even incorporating into a modern design.
Barbara Manning owns Attic Antiques on Highway 119. Photos by Allie Klaubert.
Attic Antique specializes in Americana antiques and has a wide selection of everything from quilts to dinnerware.
“You can use one piece in so many different ways. That’s what’s wonderful about antiques,” Barbara said. A member of the Alabama Antique Trail, Attic Antiques often hosts out-oftown visitors from from Tennessee to Tuscaloosa. Once customers hear about Attic Antique’s wide array of everything from corner cupboards to small gifts, they can’t help but stop by for a visit. Barbara said that customers are drawn to the unique goods that she sells. “We try to get things that are real unusual. Instead of getting 20 of one thing, I get a variety. That’s what keeps them coming back, they want something that is different.”
The front porch at Attic Antiques, just like the rest of the store, is like that of a home.
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7023 Meadowlark Dr • 408-4FUN (4386) • wwwbackyardal.com (Turn Between Walmart and Lowe’s)
www.280living.com
280 Living | April 2012
280 Business Happenings Lime Fresh Mexican at The Summit Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is opening in late April in the former Tommy Bahama location by Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit. The restaurant will serve Mexican-style cuisine made with fresh ingredients and charbroiled on grills in an exhibition-style kitchen. Lime Fresh also features a signature homemade salsa bar, 50 variations of hot sauces, and healthy options ranging from whole wheat to low-carb items. Menu items include a Cantina Steak Salad, South Beach Burrito, Surfer Tacos and Flautas. The restaurants started in Miami but uses locally sourced foods as much as possible. Lime Fresh is located at 105 Summit Boulevard and can be reached at 969-8068. Their hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, visit www.limefreshmexicangrill.com.
Body Bronze wins startup award Ivy Wilson, owner of Body Bronze Mobile Tan, was recognized as one of 100 Home-Based Start-Ups in 2011 by StartUpNation. The business offers mobile spray tanning to the Highway 280 area. For more information, visit www. bodybronzemobiletan.com or call 478-9681.
A17
April Events for the 280 Area
“Canvas and Coffee” at Ekklesia Ekkelisia Coffee House is partnering with the Shelby Arts Council to hold a “Canvas and Coffee” painting class. The first class will be Thursday, April 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Rae Lynn Dodson will lead students step by step through the evening’s featured artwork. Dodson is a graduate of University of Montevallo and currently teaches oil and acrylic classes at the Shelby Arts Council Gallery. To sign up for the class, visit www. shelbycountyartscouncil.com or call 669-0044. Ekklesia Coffee House (www.ekklesiacoffeehouse.com) is located at 109 Foothill Parkway and can be reached at 678-4444.
4/14- 5th Annual A Taste of Shelby County. Cahaba Grand Conference Center, 3660 Grandview Parkway, Birmingham. 6 - 8 p.m. Advanced Tickets: $25. At the door: $30. Prepare online for tickets now. 4/19- “Emergency Ready Program” presented by SERVPRO of Shelby County. SERVPRO, 10 Monroe Dr., Pelham. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. RSVP required by noon, Tuesday, April 17. Investment: No cost. Class includes materials and steak to order lunch for participants. Register now.
Cahaba Valley Computer Services anniversary
G
Cahaba Valley Computer Services is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Owner John Brown started the business, now located off Valleydale Road in Meadow Brook Medical and Professional Center, in his living room in 2002. The company is a full service information technology provider specializing in Microsoft Windows products. They offer services like networking installations and support, backup and recovery solutions and virus and malware removal. They work with small and medium businesses in the area. The business is located at 5120 Cyrus Circle, Suite 202. For more information, visit cvcsllc.com.
280 Living neighborly news & entertainment
For information about Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce events, go online to: www.shelbychamber.org or call 663-4542.
Salon
Now offering Pure Barre lite! call, go online, or stop by for more info.
lift • tone • burn
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SPRING SPECIALS Bodywave Special only $90
Includes bodywave and cut only (no blowdry)
Sparkle Highlights only $75 Includes highlights and blowdry only (no cut)
NEW CLIENT PROMO 30 DAYS | $100 UNLIMITED
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5426 hwy 280 east • suite 6 (located in the terrace at greystone shopping center next to Greybar and Chuck’s Fish) 991.5224 • www.purebarre.com
$5 OFF A haircut for any new client
Offer Expires 4/30/2012
Salon
5291 Valleydale Road #137, Next to Fancy Fur (former location of Diana’s Salon)
205-991-7771
5291 Valleydale Road #137, Next to Fancy Fur (former location of Diana’s Salon)
205-991-7771
A18
| April 2012
April Calendar of Events
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280 Area 4/2-4/25 – Teen Boot Camp. St. Vincent’s One Nineteen. 7191 Cahaba Valley Road, Hoover, AL 35242. Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Ages 13-16. This camp motivates teens to be actively involved. Personal training with fitness specialists Tiffany Harris and Haley Jasper is included in the program. Sessions include a healthy snack. Admission: $150 per person. More information: Register at 408-6544. 4/3-4/26 – Beginning Hoop Dance. St. Vincent’s One Nineteen. 7191 Cahaba Valley Road, Hoover, AL 35242. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Join the adult hula hoop fitness class and burn 300-600 calories per hour class. Ann Kirkwood teaches hula hoop basics and fun fitness dance moves. No hoop experience necessary. Hoops are provided for each class. Admission: Free for members, $15 per class or five class pass is $60 for nonmembers. Register at 408-6544. 4/3-4/4 – Kindergarten Pre-Registration for Shelby County Schools. Oak Mountain Elementary, Inverness Elementary, Chelsea Park Elementary, Mt. Laurel Elementary. 4/3, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.; 4/4, 7 a.m.-11 a.m. Bring your child’s certified birth certificate, current Alabama immunization form (blue), social security card, two of the following current proofs of residence: mortgage, lease, rent receipt, or a power, gas or water utility bill with service address, and any applicable divorce or court-ordered custody documents. 4/7 - OMHS Film Club’s Recess Film Festival. OMHS Performing Arts Center. 5p.m. Admission: $1 at the door. More information: visit the OMHS Film Club’s event website at recessfilmfestival. blogspot.com. 4/13-4/15 – OMMS Expo. Oak Mountain Middle School. 4/13, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. and 8 p.m.-12 a.m.; 4/14, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; 4/15, 12 -5 p.m. OMMS invites the community to visit its annual Expo. The event features carnival rides, games and concessions from Kissel Entertainment. Tickets will be available to purchase for individual rides or armbands for admission to all rides. 4/14 – A Taste of Shelby County. Cahaba Grand Conference Center, 3660 Grandview Pkwy. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Admission: Advance tickets, $25; Door tickets, $30. More information: Register at http://business. shelbychamber.org/Events/details/5thannual-a-taste-of-shelby-county. 4/14 – Mt. Laurel Spring Festival. Downtown Mt. Laurel. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Festival events include a doggie dressup event with prizes for the top three winners, a farmers market and craft fair, inflatables, hay rides, music, face painting and concessions. Admission: Free. More information: visit www.mtlaurel.com or call 408-8696. 4/14 – Supersitters. St. Vincent’s One Nineteen. 7191 Cahaba Valley Road, Hoover, AL 35242. 9 a.m-12 p.m. Ages: 11 and older. Learn about childcare and childcare techniques, safety and developmental and age appropriate activities and interests. Cost: $20 per person. More information: Register at 939-7878. 4/14 – Time Management: Making the Most of the Clock. St. Vincent’s One Nineteen. 7191 Cahaba Valley Road, Hoover, AL 35242. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Professional organizer, Kim McBrayer, will teach a free class about time management. Come learn how to make life easier by getting the best out of your time. Cost: Free. More information: Register at 408-6550. 4/20-4/22– The King and I. Chelsea High School. April 20 and 21, 7 p.m.; April 21 and 22, 2 p.m. A musical/theatre production with more than 50 students. Admission: $5, students; $10, adults. 4/26 – Canvas and Coffee Painting Class. Ekklasia Coffee Café, 109 Foothills Parkway, Chelsea. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The Shelby County Arts Council has teamed up with Ekklasia Coffee Café for this event. Rae
email your events to calendar@280living.com
Lynn Dodson will lead students step by step through the evening’s featured artwork. More information: visit www. shelbycountyartscouncil.com or call 6690044. 4/28 – John Carroll Catholic High School’s 8th Annual Carrollights Celebration. Our Lady of the Valley Social Hall. 6 p.m. Primary fundraiser for the PTO. Will feature dinner, dancing to the music of the Birmingham Rhythm Kings, and live and silent auctions. The winner of the Free Tuition Raffle will be announced during the evening. More information: purchase tickets online at www.jcchs.org. 4/28 - Italian Food Festival at St. Mark. St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 7340 Cahaba Valley Road. 2 p.m. Marks the Feast of St. Mark. Offers a food expo with main courses and appetizers from local restaurants. Admission: $20, adults; $10, children ages 6-12; Free, children age 5 and under. Homemade Italian cookies and baked goods as well as a freshly filled cannoli station will also be available. Mass will be held at 4:30 p.m., and a bonfire finale will begin at 9:30 p.m. More information: visit www.italianfoodfest.org.
4/7 – Casting Crowns with Matthew West, Royal Tailor. BJCC Arena. 7 p.m. Admission: $19-$77. More information: visit bjcc.org. 4/7 –LeAnn Rimes. Samford University’s Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center. 8 p.m. The Alabama Symphony Orchestra will accompany vocalist LeAnn Rimes. Admission: $17-$80. More information: 975-2787. 4/13 – Opera Birmingham Presents: An Evening with Angela Brown. The Alabama School of Fine Arts, 1800 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd. Center. 8 p.m. Admission: Tickets available only to season ticket holders. More information: http://www. operabirmingham.org/performances.html. 4/13-4/15 – Alabama Ballet Presents: Alice in Wonderland with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Samford University’s Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center. 4/13 at 7:30 p.m., 4/14 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and 4/15 at 2:30 p.m. Admission: $30-$55. More information: 975-2787.
4/14- Early Bird African Violet Club meeting. 10 a.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, main level Conference Room. More information: Martha Coleman, 256378-7398 or www.ebafricanvioletclub.com. 4/17-20 – Take Two! A Ladies Consignment Sale. Vestavia City Center. Spring/summer 2012 consignment clothing event. Preview sales for volunteers and consignors on April 17. Sale will feature ladies’ clothing, shoes, purses and maternity. Receiving for tagged items will be Sunday, April 15 and Monday, April 16. More information: www. taketwoconsignment.com. 4/21 – One Year After: The April 27th Tornadoes. McWane Science Center. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Exhibit open that reflects the power and experiences of the storms on April 27, 2011. Admission: included in cost; free, members. More information: www. mcwane.org/events.
4/21-4/28 – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. BJCC. More information: www.bjcc.org.
4/22 – Picnic for the Planet. Railroad Park. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day with good food and great company. Be a part of The Nature Conservancy in Alabama’s celebration and rock out to cool live music, view picnic table art, and attempt to set the Guinness world record for the most people picnicking in a 24-hour period. More information: 251-1155.
4/3 – Homemade Pasta! With Mark Leslie, author of Beyond the Pasta. 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Admission: $40. More information: www.beyondthepasta.com. 4/5 – Biscuits and Scones. 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Hoffman Media’s Executive Chef Rebecca Touliatos to take us to our full biscuit and scone potential. Admission: $35. More
4/27-29 – South Pacific. BJCC Concert Hall. 4/27 at 8 p.m., 4/28 at 2 and 8 p.m., 4/29 at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Admission: Tickets, $27.5067.50. More information: visit bjcc.org.
4/22- Free concert by Embellishments, Birmingham’s community handbell choir. 3 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art, Steiner Auditorium.
Special Events
information: http://bakeandcookco.com/.
4/7 – 5th Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Oak Mountain State Park. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Egg hunts are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission: Adults, $3; Children 6-11, $1; 5 and under,
4/22 – Celebrate the Outdoors on Earth Day. Vulcan Park and Museum. 2 p.m. Celebrate the outdoors on Earth Day with live performances by Red Mountain Theatre Company’s Youth Programs and “Singin’
Food
4/10 – Authentic Chinese Stir Fry Made Easy! With Susan Green. 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Our class menu will exemplify the simplicity of stir-fry and will showcase the proper techniques, equipment, and common ingredients of stir fry. Admission: $40. More information: http:// bakeandcookco.com/. 4/12 - Conquer “Crust-o-phobia” through Pies, Pies and More Pies! Susan Green with Melanie Thorn. 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Admission: $40. More information: http:// bakeandcookco.com/. 4/17 - Authentic Indian Breads, Kurry Guru’s Mukta Joshi & Himanshu Pant. 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Indian culinary adventures continue with a Kurry Guru specialty in this Indian-bread making class. Admission: $40. More information: http:// bakeandcookco.com/. 4/19- Roast Chicken and an Evening of Roasting Back to Basics! With Susan Green. 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Learn classic roasting techniques to make culinary staple chicken a true treasure and take it to the next level with sauces, gravies and vinaigrettes from pan juices. Admission: $40. More information: http://bakeandcookco.com/. 4/24- Knife Skills I, Susan Green. 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. This “nuts and bolts” class will sharpen your knowledge of knives and their various uses and more. Admission: $35. More information: http://bakeandcookco. com/. 4/26 - A Cinco de Mayo Celebration with Vibrant Mexican Street Food! Lori Sours from Salsa Senorita and Susan Green. 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Admission: $40. More information: http://bakeandcookco.com/.
Music & Arts 4/3 – Red Mountain Theatre Company’s Concert Series 4 (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). RMTC Cabaret Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Featuring cast members of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee performing special numbers. Admission: Tickets, $30-35. More information: 324-2424. 4/5 – Alison Krauss & Union Station, Featuring Jerry Douglas. BJCC Concert Hall. 8 p.m. Admission: $44.50 or $59.50. More information: visit bjcc.org.
4/14 – Birmingham Girls Choir auditions. Edgewood Presbyterian Church. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. More information: 916-SONG.
free. Activities (except egg hunt & sack races) require 1 ticket, which can be bought for $1 a piece under the Dogwood Pavilion. More information: http://www.alapark. com/oakmountain/. 4/7- Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Birmingham Zoo. Call to make a reservation. More information: 879-0409. 4/7 – The Great Egg Drop. McWane Science Center. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Building from 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m., egg drop at 12 p.m. Join us for an eggciting, eggstreme, hands-on fun eggstravaganza. Admission: included in cost; free, members. More information: www.mcwane.org/events. 4/11 – Native Spring Wildflowers. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. 8:30 a.m. Admission: Members, $40; Non-members, $45. This class will examine what makes a plant an ephemeral and some of the special characteristics they possess. More information: 414-3950. 4/13 – Tunes ‘n Blooms. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. This premier event will preclude the Spring Plant Sale and will include food, drink and music. Tickets: Non-members, $15; Members, $10. More information: 414-3965. 4/14 – Spirit of Hope Youth Ranch’s 5th Annual Bluegrass and Burgers Family Event. 194 Kings Ranch Drive, Wilsonville, AL 35186. 12 p.m.-3 p.m. Spirit of Hope adopts horses from difficult situations, such as abuse and neglect, and allows at-risk and disadvantaged youth the opportunity to work with these horses and care for them. Admission: Free, donations accepted. More information: 669-0790. 4/14 – Girls Inc. Cajun Cook-off. Linn Park. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. All funds go to support Girls Inc. mission to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold. Admission: Cost to enter, $300. More information: www. bhamcajuncookoff.com. 4/14 – Ready. Set. Cure. 5k Race. Oak Mountain State Park. 8 a.m. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and awards and door prize giveaways start at 9 a.m. Admission: $30; Children under 12, free. More information: http://www.active.com/5k-race/pelhamal/readysetcure-2012 or contact Meagan Yeilding at myeilding@gmail.com.
in the Rain” cast members. Admission: Free. More information: 324-2424.
4/28 - Tour de Blue: Cycling for Prostate Cancer Awareness. Birmingham Bicycle Company, 1105 Dunston Ave. 8 a.m. Promote prostate cancer awareness and to support the Urology Health Foundation’s free prostate cancer screenings across Alabama. There are three ride options: 60, 75, and 100 miles. Admission: $40, includes an event t-shirt. More information: visit www.UrologyHealthFoundation.org 4/28 – Garden Art Party. B & A Warehouse, 1531 1st Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. All proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. Admission: Individual, $95; Couple, $180. More information: 871-7970 or www.alzca. org. 4/29 - UAB National Alumni Society Scholarship Run 5K/10K. Pepper Place District. 6 p.m. Admission: $25 early registration, $30 postmarked after March 31, 2012, $35 day of race. All proceeds benefit UAB Student Scholarships. More information: www.active.com or www.uab. edu. 4/29 – Birmingham Crop Hunger Walk. Caldwell Park, 1116 26th Street South. 2:30 p.m. Registration begins at 1:45 p.m. The community comes together to raise money and awareness for hunger relief, locally and around the world. Walkers are asked to obtain pledge dollars from family, neighbors, colleagues and places of worship for their participation in the 5k walk. A family walk event, not a race. More information: http://bhamcropwalk.org/ index.htm.
Save the Date 5/4- Birmingham Music Club Presents Second Annual Bravo!Birmingham. Samford University Wright Center. 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.Tickets: $45, $35, and $25. Children 12 and under and balcony seats $10. A $5 discount per ticket is offered for groups of 10 or more. More information: 726-2853 or visit www.samford.edu/ wrightcenter or www.bhammusicclub.org. 5/5- Celebrate Hoover Day. 1:30-5:30 p.m. Veterans Park. More information: www. hooveral.org or 444-7500.
www.280living.com
280 Living
280 Live Music Listings HOGANS Irish City Vineyard Courtyard Oyster
Pub & Grill
Arbor Place 5479 Highway 280, Suite 102 437-3360 cityvineyard.net
507 Cahaba Park Circle 995-0533 Every Wednesday / Thursday 8 p.m. Live Music by Razz Ma Tazz Every Friday / Saturday 9 p.m. - Until Live Music by Razz Ma Tazz
Every Friday Night live music, 7-10 p.m. on the patio. Inside, they have a wine tasting, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The Fish Market Restaurant
CAFE FIRENZE 110 Inverness Plaza 980-1315
GREYSTONE 5407 Highway 280 980-8600
Call for this month’s music listings.
Every Thursday night live music with Jeff Taylor. All Parrotheads are invited.
Pablo’s
Restaurant and Cantina
BILLY’S BAR & GRILL
3439 Colonnade Parkway 969-1411
Live music Wednesday and Thursday, 6 – 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 – 10:30 p.m.
Village Tavern The Summit, Lower Level 970-1640
Every Wednesday and Thursday, 6:30 - 9 p.m. Artist Jeff Tyler performs. Fridays, 9 -11:30 p.m., Various live music.
4520 Overton Road, Suite 104 Liberty Park 956-2323
4/1 - Fuzzy’s Green Flag Tour Post Race Party (7-9 p.m.) 4/4 - Goodfellas 4/6 - Carnaggio Trio 4/11 - Goodfellas 4/13 - Zippy Duo 4/18 - Goodfellas 4/25 - Goodfellas 4/27 - Sidecar
bar & grill 280 band and dj schedule
Mondays- DJ Kop 4/1-Spoonful / Heath Shoemaker 4/3-Dj Quack 4/4-Matt Hill & Sean Bunn / Matt Barnes & David Koonce 4/5-Honeychild acoustic / Heath Shoemaker 4/6-Thick as Thieves / SK5 4/7-Todd Simpson and the Mojo Child / Patrick Travis / Heath Shoemaker 4/8-Calling Station / Heath Shoemaker 4/10-Dj Kop 4/11-Matt Hill & Sean Bunn / Matt Barnes & David Koonce 4/12-Huck & Boss / Heath Shoemaker 4/13-After the Crash / Matt Hill band 4/14-Phase 2 / Bobby Legg / Heath Shoemaker 4/15-Huck & Boss / Heath Shoemaker 4/17-Dj Quack 4/18-Matt Hill & Sean Bunn / Matt Barnes & David Koonce 4/19-Will & Bobby /Heath Shoemaker 4/20-Outshine / SK5 4/21-4th & 1 / Reagan & Becca / Heath Shoemaker 4/22-Patrick & Chip / Heath Shoemaker 4/24-Dj Kop 4/25-Matt Hill & Sean Bunn / Matt Barnes & David Koonce 4/26-Huck & Boss / Heath Shoemaker 4/27-Pretty Slick / Matt Hill band 4/28-Honey Child / Calling Station / Heath Shoemaker 4/29-Heath Shoemaker
| April 2012
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A19
Classifieds Office Condo For Sale in The Narrows
$183,475 194 Narrows Drive, Suite 102 Birmingham, AL 35242 • 895± Sq. Ft. ($209.68 psf) • Contains open area/reception, storage, work room, break room & bathroom • Less then a minute from Highway 280, Old Highway 280 & Highway 41 • Minutes from Chelsea, Greystone, Inverness & I-459 Contact Owner, Georgia Lay @ 205-266-1100
Physiotherapy Associates
Greystone will no longer participate in the Medicare Program (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act) as a CORF provider effective December 7, 2011. Physiotherapy Associates – Greystone and the Secretary of Health and Human Services will be terminated on December 7, 2011 in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security Act as a CORF provider. Therefore, the Medicare Program will not make payment for CORF services furnished to Beneficiaries on or after December 7, 2011. Physiotherapy Associates – Greystone will continue to participate as an OPT Provider in the Medicare Program effective December 7, 2011. Trent Nessler, Area Vice President/ Administrator Physiotherapy Associates, Inc.
Cupcakes & Cakes Delicious Cupcake Decorating Parties!
Order your Mother’s Day Cakes Today
$5 OFF
a regular dozen coupon expires 4/30/12
OFF 10% cake orders
Spring Sale! 1/2 Off select styles
Easter cakes must be ordered by April 2nd coupon expires 4/30/12
5479 Highway 280, Suite 122 • 991-5006 Arbor Place Shopping Center across from Lee Branch Shopping Center near Pizza Express & Dales
Store Hours Mon.-Sat. 10-6 www.annalycesbakeshop.com 5% sales tax
5406 Hwy 280 • 980-4800 Corner of 119 & Hwy 280 near McAlisters Deli
20
| April 2012
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Mountain Brook Village • St. Vincent’s Blount • The Narrows
The secret to great skin is closer than you think. Now offering these services at the Narrows on 280… Medical & Surgical Dermatology ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
Skin cancer screenings Moles Skin Rashes / Dry Skin Psoriasis Exzema Rosacea Skin Tags Warts Molluscum and more
Cosmetic Dermatology
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| April 2012
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All that’s old is new again: The creations of Kathy McMahon By KATHRYN ACREE Kathy McMahon is a self-described “queen of recycling.” She incorporates that into aspects of her clothing, her jewelry and her furnishings. “I just love the fact that you can take old things and do something else with them,” McMahon said. Embracing a growing trend in interior design, the Renaissance Consignment Boutique owner has recently opened a booth at Greystone Antiques & Marketplace called Renaissance Marketplace to showcase furnishings she creates that are “repurposed” or “upcycled.” A door or piece of a wood pallet can be refashioned into a table or stand. A surveyor’s tool can become a piece of art or a lamp. “The idea of creating furniture this way is so great because recycling has been lost in decorating in the last 15 years or so,” McMahon said. “So much of what was being sold was made of particle board, for example, or just not really high quality materials. Repurposing antiques instills that quality again.” McMahon spends a lot of time enjoying what she calls “junking.” She and a group of friends load up for the weekend,
Kathy McMahon with a repurposed piece created for her booth. She converted this old door into a potters/gardners stand or as a stand for a guest bath that could have a bowl sink added to it. Photo by Kathryn Acree.
hitch up a trailer and head out to uncover antique treasures in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and her other favorite spots in the Deep South. “A lot of people look at old items and see an ugly thing and get rid of it,” she said. “It’s fun to have a vision of that same thing
and make it look really good.” McMahon said the most important thing she looks for in a piece to be refinished is “good bones,” meaning it’s made of high quality wood. “If you’re going to put the time and effort and money into refinishing it, it must
consist of quality materials,” she said. McMahon uses the example of a fireplace mantle she found on a junking trip that is fully refinished and available at her booth. “It looked terrible, it was covered in mud,” she said. The mantle has been repurposed to give it the distressed, aged look while still boasting quality wood that will last. A warehouse connected to Greystone Antiques & Marketplace houses McMahon’s working area. When she buys an item on a junking trip, she has a vision in mind of what it will become. “I have some tools I’ve made that make the wood look like it’s dented or has worm holes,” she said. “I’ll rub different chemicals and waxes on there to create different looks.” McMahon encourages a visit to her booth if you are new to the idea of repurposing and upcycling. She actively follows blogs and other online sites for tips and trends on new techniques for refinishing old furniture. “These old pieces are worthy of having a way to be reused,” she said. “It’s wonderful to be able to once again have furnishings of the quality of how things were once made.”
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B2
| April 2012
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Spring Home Guide
Cleaning the invisible dirt in your home By DAVID M. VAN GEFFEN
Why should we care about “invisible” dirt? If we can’t see it, then it’s not really there, right? Wrong! Oh, so very wrong. Just because we can’t see it does not mean that we can’t smell it, feel it, or that it can’t make us very sick. Here is some of what your home and office contains that we cannot see: pollen, spores, mildew, mold, pet dander, harmful or even deadly bacteria and other germs, dead skin, hair, millions of dust mites and other insects (and their corpses and waste products), cigarette smoke residue, pet urine (or worse!), car exhaust, lead, pesticides, formaldehyde or other harmful chemicals, soot, and over forty-two known carcinogens. Hard to believe, huh? Well, it’s true. One of the biggest health problems the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is concerned about today is protecting people from their own indoor environments whether at home or at the workplace. Here are some ways that you can limit the amount of unseen dirt that is in your home or office: ffDust before you vacuum. ffVacuum twice per week with a vacuum that either vents outside or has a special HEPA filter or equivalent filtering system.
ffVacuum under and behind furnishings regularly. ffClean or replace HVAC filters frequently. ffHave your carpet and area rugs professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months.
ffHave your ducts cleaned every two to three years. ffMake sure your home has a quality air purification system.
ffWash all linens at least once a week in hot water. ff
A little known fact is that your carpet, area rugs and upholstered furniture play an extremely important role in protecting your health from all the invaders above. These textiles act like gigantic filters. They trap the unseen contaminants and keep them away from your mouth, eyes, and ears and prevent them from floating around and getting into your lungs. However, every filter needs to be cleaned regularly to make it work right. According to the EPA, your carpet and rugs need vacuuming twice per week and a professional cleaning every twelve to eighteen months. Your upholstered furniture (and even mattresses) should be vacuumed every two to three weeks and professionally cleaned at least every two years. Feel free to learn more about indoor environments and keeping them clean at either www.epa.
Cleaning experts recommend upholstered furniture be vacuumed every two to three weeks and professionally cleaned at least every two years. Photo courtesy of Miracle Machine, Inc.
gov or www.iicrc.org. David M. Van Geffen has been an I.I.C.R.C. certified Master Textile Restorer since 1999 and currently owns and operates Miracle Machine, Inc., a residential and light commercial cleaning business specializing in carpet, oriental rugs, upholstery, draperies, and ceramic tile and grout. David, his wife, Michele, and their three sons moved to the North Shelby area from New Orleans in 2005 and have been improving the environment in Birmingham one house at a time ever since.
Spring cleaning: Where to start? By KIM McBRAYER What is it about spring cleaning that makes us want to clean and organize? It’s as if the hibernation is over and we awaken with new energy to tackle those projects that eluded us somehow during our wintertime slumber. So, now with the cold, dreary days behind us, and new growth happening all around, let’s find some areas in our homes that need pruning, so we can truly bloom this spring. After 10 years of organizing clients, I have found the first hurdle they face is where to start. Overwhelmed with the full
scope of the project, they walk through their home saying, “Everywhere I look, there’s another mess!” To begin, take a moment and evaluate what areas cause you the most stress. And don’t say all of them; the question is the most. However, I don’t recommend you start in the kitchen. I learned a long time ago that kitchens are not for rookies! I suggest a small space to get you started and with a quick success, you’ll be inspired to find another one. After you find your starting point, the next hurdle to overcome will likely be staying on task. If you have ever found
yourself cleaning out the refrigerator when you started in your closet, you’ll understand what I mean. All you intended to do was take your daughter’s socks to her room, which you tidy while you’re there, then start a load of laundry, and fold the kitchen towels and put them away while you’re there, then you’ll grab a quick drink while you’re there, then wipe up the spill while you’re there and before you know, all the food is spread across the counter, the drawers are in soapy water and your closet doesn’t look any better at the end of the day. You have to stay where you start. Once you have decided where to
start and find a way to stay focused, you can finally begin to prune/purge that space. Try using these three questions to determine what needs to stay or go: 1. Do I need it? 2. Do I use it? 3. Do I value it? Touch everything and ask yourself if it is worth keeping. By taking everything out, you can really clean that space and when you put it back in, you will know you are ready to get outside and enjoy the spring! Kim McBrayer is a certified personal organizer and can be reached at kim@ allspacedout.biz or 621-7717.
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Spring Home Guide | April 2012
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Decorators’ ShowHouse to be How to achieve less held at Turtle Rock Estate waste, more efficiency By MADOLINE MARKHAM
Turtle Rock Estate in Vestavia Hills will be featured as this year’s Decorators’ ShowHouse. For the first time in ShowHouse history, the home will be sold at an auction during the event. Photo courtesy of the Symphony Volunteer Council of the Alabama Symphonic Association, Inc.
The Symphony Volunteer Council of the Alabama Symphonic Association, Inc. will hold its annual Decorators’ ShowHouse at Turtle Rock Estate located in Vestavia Hills. The ShowHouse opens April 21 and continues through May 6. A first in ShowHouse history, this luxury home and gardens will be sold at auction on May 3 at 6 p.m. during the ShowHouse event. Turtle Rock Estate is over 10,000 square feet and features five bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The home includes a wine cellar, home theater, regulation-size half basketball court with mount ball rack, and a five-station climbing wall. The home is located in a beautiful setting with exceptionally large natural rock formations and a 35-foot waterfall in the backyard. Water falls from a massive natural rock formation into a stone creek
that meanders along the length of the property forming two mini-waterfalls on the lower patios. The Decorators’ ShowHouse tour will include over 21 decorated areas in the home. Tickets are $15 presale or $20 at the door and benefit the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Lunch is served daily from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for $13 and includes a beverage. A sweet shop will provide treats for $3. ShowHouse hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Friday evenings, 6 – 9 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m. Parking and shuttles will be running from Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, 2061 Kentucky Avenue. For more information, call 824-5198 or visit www. showhouse-AL.com.
Natalie Kelly saw firsthand the full cycle of waste when she traveled to Africa a few years ago. When she returned to Birmingham, the Inverness resident wanted to change how she lived. She quickly became frustrated by the lack of local resources and decided to start her own, a blog that became mygreenbirmingham.com. “You don’t have to overhaul everything in your home to go green,” she said. “There are a lot of inexpensive ways to go green.” Kelly is encouraging homeowners to take advantages of Birmingham WISE (Worthwhile Investments Save Energy), which provide rebates for homeowners who install efficiency measures that result in an energy savings of at least 20 percent. Additionally, these measures reduce the cost of energy bills and increase a home’s resale value. Kelly also offers these simple DIY tips to improve energy efficiency: Air leaks. Air leaks can be prevented by applying weatherstripping around a door’s frame and a door sweep to seal the bottom of the door. Storm doors also help to reduce wasted energy by creating “dead space” between the cold outside air and your home’s entry way. Thermostat. Install a programmable thermostat and pre-set desired temperatures throughout the house at any time of the day. Heating vents. Maintain filters and air vents by checking them once a month to make sure they are clean and free of debris. If necessary, replace them. A dirty filter will make your furnace work much harder, which also means more energy spent. Also, make sure that air flow through
your home’s vents is unobstructed by any furniture, draperies or other household objects, doing so will lead to higher energy efficiency. Windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy-efficient windows can reduce average heating costs by as much as 20 to 30 percent. Check for air leaks in windows in the same manner as the doors. If a draft or sign of light is found seeping through the window’s frame, install weatherstripping, or apply caulking around the window’s perimeter. Blinds and drapes. Using heavier drapes or installing blinds over your windows can also help create an extra barrier against air leaks. However, on any south-facing windows, make sure to keep blinds and curtains open during the day for your house to benefit from the warmth of sunlight. Help cool your house during the warm summer months by covering southfacing windows with blinds or curtains. Doing so eliminates the direct exposure of added heat from sunlight. Light bulbs. Making the simple switch from incandescents to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) will not only save energy but will save you money as well. On average, CFLs use about 75 percent less electricity than incandescents and generally last more than 8,500 hours longer, which means replacing fewer bulbs over a longer span of time. CFLs convert the majority of the energy they utilize into light, whereas incandescent bulbs tend to generate more heat with the energy they use. For more information on Birmingham WISE and other tips to save energy, visit www. mygreenbirmingham.com.
B4
| April 2012
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Spring Home Guide
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Freshen up the look of your yard to add appeal With our mild winter now behind us as the days grow longer, the appeal of a welcoming yard is once again many homeowners’ desire. 280 Living sat down with a local landscape designer, Jenny Carpenter, to discuss some “dos” and “don’ts” for a yard that invites you to stay awhile.
Do
Embrace color. Whether it comes from foliage or annuals, adding some color to your yard makes it look “happy to be there.” Be aware of the difference shade and sun make. Landscapers will tell you that there is no such thing as a bad plant, just a bad location. It sounds like a simple mistake to avoid, but this is one of the biggest mistakes novice green thumbs make. Know your limitations. Twenty flats of annuals look fabulous at your local garden shop, but the reality of keeping them looking good once they are in your yard is a whole different issue. Keep it simple. Don’t plant what you’re not willing to maintain. Anticipate problems. Walk your yard at least once a week and inspect what you’ve planted. If something doesn’t look right, take a sample to your garden shop and ask for help.
Don’t
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Over prune to create an unnatural look. Becoming overly aggressive with a hedge trimmer by creating perfect box, ball or other eclectic-shaped bushes only means you’ll be out there immediately cutting again when they grow. Plant shrubbery over the bedline. There should be 6 – 8 inches of mulch between the plant or hedge and where the grass begins. Pile up plants in one area of a bed. There should be separation between trees
Meadow Brook landscape designer Jenny Carpenter recommends adding some color to your yard to give it a fresh new look for spring. Photo by Kathryn Acree.
and what is planted beneath them so that visually there is a difference in height. Expect miracles in the area of a yard where kids or big dogs play. Accept that those areas belong to them and adjust accordingly. Pets tend to run a track around fence lines. Often that can be camouflaged with a line of plants between the pet’s area and the fence. Be afraid to seek advice from a professional. Landscape designers will often offer to consult with you at a cost that is less than you might think. Many offer design services to fit your budget and give as much or as little input as you need. Jenny Carpenter is a Meadow Brook resident and landscape designer. An Auburn grad, she has over 20 years experience in the Over-the-Mountain area. She offers everything from consultations to design help no matter if you live in a castle or a condo. For more information, contact her at 991-6063.
OMHS’s Callie Walker named Outstanding Teen Callie Walker, a freshman at Oak Mountain High School, was crowned Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen for 2012 on March 3 at Sylacauga High School. Callie performed a Ballet en pointe to “Storms In Africa.” The contestants competed in a personal interview with the judges, talent, fitness, and evening gown. With the title, Callie was awarded four-year renewable full-tuition scholarships to her choice of Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and Troy University, as well as a one-year scholarship to Jacksonville State University. She also received other cash scholarships and prizes. Callie is the daughter of Angela and Mike Walker. Oak Mountain students Myrah Taylor and Brooklyn Holt and Briarwood Christian School student Sydney Slaughter were among 15 finalists in the competition. Callie will compete for the title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen in August in Orlando. The Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen Pageant is part of the Miss America Organization.
Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen 2012 Callie Walker. Photo courtesy of the Walker family.
280 Living
www.280living.com
| April 2012
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B5
280 area summer camps for all By CRAIG KLEIMEYER
We rounded up a list of summer camps right on or a short drive from Highway 280. To see listings of summer camps all over Birmingham, visit www.280Living.com. Kanawahala Program Center (KPC) Girl Scout Camp Girl Scout camps are the place to enjoy the outdoors, make new friends and create memories, but also to conquer challenges, develop leadership skills and improve self-esteem by practicing teamwork and decision making. Camps are also open to non-members. KPC is for girls aged 5 to 17 and has a private lake, perfect for week-long water sports sessions. KPC offers creative camps where girls practice cake-decorating skills, tie-dying clothes or making jewelry. Special camps include a Mardi Gras week and a rock star week. Girls can also run the zip line at night or solve a camp mystery in addition to traditional camp activities. KPC offers resident and day camps, and resident and day horse camps. Start and end dates are May 29-July 27. KPC is located at 831 Girl Scout Road in Chelsea. For more information, call 678-8843, email tknowles@girlscoutsnca.org or visit www.girlscoutsnca.org/camps. Heathermoor Farm Riding Academy Camps This camp offers six weeklong sessions beginning on June 11 and ending the week of July 23. All camp sessions are from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Cost is $350 per week, and a $25 discount is offered for each additional child from the same household who is attending the same week. Bring a packed lunch, hardsoled shoes (paddock boots recommended, but tennis shoes are acceptable) and a helmet (optional). Please wear long pants for all horse activities. In order to reserve
your spot, mail the application and a $75 deposit to 2484 Eastern Valley Road, Leeds, AL 35094. Space is limited to 12 campers per session. Camp activities include a 30-minute riding lesson every day, horse grooming, tacking instruction, basic horse care lessons, games on horseback, arts and crafts, and much more. For more information, call 702-4372 and download an application at www.heathermoorfarm. com. Sports Blast Summer Camps These soccer camps include the Mighty Mites Soccer camps for ages 5-6 and Soccer Day Camp for ages 7-16. Sports Blast offers four sessions for those camps: June 11-15, June 25-29, July 9-14 and July 23-27. Also, Sports Blast will offer a Kid’s Fun Camp for ages 5-8 and a Tykes Fun Camp for ages 3-4. Those camp sessions are: June 1822 and July 16-20. Ready…Set…Be Active Camp for ages 6-14 includes four sessions as well, which are: June 4-8, June 25-29, July 9-14 and July 23-27. The sessions are the same for the Lightning Speed and Agility camp, which is offered to kids ages 8-16. Register online at www.sportsblastsc.com or call 980-1701. Sports Blast is located at 19220 Highway 280 East in Birmingham. YMCA Hargis Day Camps Kids ages 5-13 can attend week-long day camp sessions at the 928 Hargis Drive YMCA in Chelsea this summer from May 26-August 7. YMCA Hargis summer camp will help kids develop self-confidence, make lasting friendships and learn life-long skills while having fun in the outdoors. Traditional Day Camp activities include swimming, archery, fishing, arts and crafts, rock climbing, a petting zoo and more. Navigator Track Specialty Camps include
outdoor survival, fishing and rock climbing. Camp costs $175 per week and is allinclusive. There is a $25 registration fee as well, and transportation is available for $31 per week. For more information, call 6786512, email hargisdaycamp@ymcabham. org, or visit www.ymcahargisretreat.org. Head Over Heels Gymnastics Camp Camp Fliptastic returns to Head Over Heels Gymnastics for this summer. Kids ages 5-12 can attend two sessions that run June 11-15 and July 16-20. Camp days are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early drop-off and late pick-up are available for an additional fee. Early drop off begins at 7:30 a.m.; late pick up runs until 5:30 p.m. Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. is a “show-off” camp finale performance for family and friends is held. Also, this year, Mity Mites Camp will be offered for two sessions from June 1921 and July 10-12 for ages 3-6. Camp days are Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday at 11:30 a.m. is our “show-off” performance for family and friends to see what the kids have been learning. Campers must be 3 years old and potty trained. Please no Pull-ups. Registration is open now online at http://www. headoverheelsgyms.com/CampFliptastic. aspx. Head Over Heels is located at 500 Caldwell Trace Park. For more information, call 981-2720. Eagle Point Golf Club Summer Camps Kids ages 6-17 can come learn more about the game of golf this summer at Eagle Point Golf Club. Four camp sessions take place from June 5-7, June 12-14, June 19-21 and June 26-28. Cost is $125, and
camp will be 9 a.m.-11 a.m. on Day 1 and 2 and 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Day 3. Camp fees include seven hours of PGA instruction, range balls, a gift pack, on course play and a certificate awarded at the hot dog lunch on Day 3. For more information, call Jon Oliver, Coordinator of Instruction at 991-9070 ext. 22 or email him at joliver@ eaglepointgolfclub.com. Corporate Drive KinderCare Summer Camp Twelve fun and unique weeks of camp, all summer long, from May through August. KinderCare offers twelve camps for pre-school, pre-k, and school-age kids (ages 6 weeks to 12-year-olds). This year they fall into six great themes: Mighty Bodies, Bendy Brains; Awesome Art; Gravity Galore and More; The Wondrous World of Food; Wild about Water; and Featured Creatures. As always, they customize our adventures for both younger and older campers and offer flexible scheduling. You can come session or to all twelve. The overall theme for the summer is The Six Treasures of Summer. KinderCare is located at 1700 Corporate Drive in Birmingham. For more information, call 995-8598. Sips n Strokes Kidz Art Camps Sips n Strokes Kidz Camps run each week, Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., from June 4 to Aug. 19. All campers are eligible to participated in an art show in October at the Wendy LoVoy Art Gallery. There is a discount in price it your child attends more than one week of camp. Sips is located off Highway 280 at 522 Cahaba Park Circle and can be reached at 408-2836.
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| April 2012
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School House
OMMS’s Haynes honored at Scholastic Press Convention
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Larry Haynes, principal of Oak Mountain Middle School, has been named Administrator of the Year by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association. Photo courtesy of Shelby County Schools.
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Larry Haynes, principal of Oak Mountain Middle School, was selected as the Administrator of the Year by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) during its spring convention in Tuscaloosa. Because of Haynes’ continuing support of ASPA and his tenure as a mentor to journalism and publication teachers, ASPA officials also announced that the Administrator of the Year award is being renamed in his honor. Before assuming the duties of principal at Oak Mountain Middle School, Haynes was the print and broadcast journalism instructor at Montevallo High School for 15 years. While at Montevallo High School, Haynes was recognized as the 1996 Teacher of the Year. He continues to foster
Spain Park honors Black History Month Spain Park High School hosted a special Black History program in February. The UAB Gospel Choir sang two selections prior to the introduction of guest speaker,
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creativity in electronic media by instructing seventh and eighth grade OMMS students in their production of a weekly school news broadcast. ASPA empowers area middle and high school students in their literary studies, and the development of print and electronic media such as newspapers, yearbooks, literary journals, magazines and news broadcasts. It also serves as the sanctioning body for student publications. Oak Mountain High School’s Paragon yearbook was given the highest award, All Alabama, at the ASPA Convention. The OMMS Talon yearbook received a merit award, the OMHS The Eagle’s Eye overall and honor awards, and the OMHS Esse literary magazine overall and superior awards.
Bettina Boateng of NBC 13 News. Members of Spain Park’s Girls Minority Achievement Council introduced the speakers and honorees.
Rakers serves as legislative page Oak Mountain Middle School seventh grader Luke Rakers served as a legislative page at the Alabama State House in Montgomery. This is the second year that Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin of District 43 sponsored Luke to page in the House of Representatives. Pages have the rare opportunity to work in the midst of legislative action by running errands on the floor of the house and during committee meetings. Luke said he enjoyed meeting other pages from around the state and appreciated the opportunity to play an active role in the legislative process. Luke will be attending the Junior National Young Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer.
OMMS seventh grader Luke Rakers and Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin.
Greystone Elementary delights with Alice in Wonderland
Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week • 981-0994 5492 Hwy 280 East ( Just East of Lee Branch)
Greystone Elementary’s drama club, The Greystone Players, showcased their talents for parents, teachers and members of the community with their February production of Alice in Wonderland. Cast members included Tweedle Dee, Olivia Germond; Tweedle Dum, Jared Schaffer; Alice, Tori Yeager; and the Queen, Allison Pendleton. Each year, the drama club performs a musical theatre production. Fifth grade students at Greystone are invited to audition for acting parts, lighting/sound and stage crew. The production offers students an opportunity to explore the world of theatre and provides a platform for various talents. Faculty advisers are Kelly Easterling, Susan Larkin and Sara Womack.
Allison Pendleton strikes a pose as the Queen in Greystone Elementary’s Alice in Wonderland.
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280 Living
| April 2012
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B7
Math team places first in local tournament
Liberty Park Middle School team members Jimbo Browning, Grace Holley, Caroline Kirkconnell and Sarah Poff.
The Liberty Park Middle School eighth grade math team placed first in the Algebra I Small School Division Category at the Briarwood School Tournament. Team Members are Jimbo Browning, Grace Holley, Caroline Kirkconnell and Sarah Poff. Individual awards went to
Sarah Poff, first place, and Jimbo Browning, third place. Competing teams were from north and central Alabama. Each student took a 25-question test and answered 20 ciphering questions. Brett Richards is the eighth grade math team sponsor.
Author and holocaust survivor speaks to LPMS students
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Holocaust survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan spoke to students at LPMS.
Chelsea Park “buzz” is all about fitness fun
Chelsea Park Elementary students who participated in the Kids Mercedes Marathon.
Physical education teachers Kelly Stewart and Valeria Hackett have their Chelsea Park Elementary Hornets all a-buzz with some great events. “We just had our largest group ever, over 50 students, participate in the Kids
Mercedes Marathon,” said Stewart. “In only our second year to have a group in the race, we doubled our number of participants.” Kelly Stewart has also recently received National Board Certification.
Fairy tale characters visit Greystone Elementary The second graders of Greystone Elementary School concluded a Fairy Tale Literacy Unit by dressing up as a favorite fairy tale character and retelling the story from that character’s point of view. It was a day filled with magic and fun.
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Blockbuster @Home (1 disc at a time): Only available with new qualifying DISH service activated between 2/01/12 and 5/20/12. For the first 3 months of your subscription, you receive a bundle of Blockbuster @Home for $5/mo (regularly $10/mo) and your programming package at a promotional bundle price. Promotional prices continue for 3 months provided you subscribe to both components of the bundle and do not downgrade. After 3 months, then-current prices apply to each component (unless a separate promotional price still applies to your programming package). Requires online DISH account for discs by mail; broadband Internet to stream content; HD DVR to stream to TV. Exchange online rentals for free in-store movie rentals at participating Blockbuster stores. Offer not available in Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands. Streaming to TV and some channels not available with select packages. Digital Home Advantage plan requires 24-month agreement and credit qualification. Cancellation fee of $17.50/month remaining applies if service is terminated before end of agreement. With qualifying packages, Online Bonus credit requires AutoPay, email opt-in for DISH E-Newsletter, and online redemption no later than 45 days from service activation. After applicable promotional period, then-current price will apply. 3-month premium movie offer value is up to $132; after 3 months then-current price applies unless you downgrade. Free Standard Professional Installation only. All equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Limit 6 leased tuners per account; upfront and monthly fees may apply based on type and number of receivers. HD programming requires HD television. Prices, packages, programming and offers subject to change without notice. Offer available for new and qualified former customers, and subject to terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer agreements. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer ends 5/20/12. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC.
SLICKS 1930 Q1 BRANDING
Holocaust survivor and Four Perfect Pebbles author Marion Blumenthal Lazan spoke to Liberty Park Middle School students in March. Following Hitler’s rise to power, Lazan and her family were forced to live six and a half years in German refugee, transit and prison camps. Although they all survived the camps, Lazan’s father succumbed to typhus just after liberation.
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B8
| April 2012
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School House
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Spain Park High School By BECKY BRINKERHOFF
Jarnagin great fit for new role as Spain Park principal Dr. Ken Jarnagin is not a new face around Spain Park; however, in the administrative office he is. Spain Park has found a new principal in the previous SPHS band director, and it seems that students have taken a liking to him. Some seniors can even be heard complaining that the fun principal arrived just as they were about to leave. After all, the personable Jarnagin takes a tremendous effort in getting to know his student body on a personal level. He takes learning about the students seriously; every morning one can see him outside the library, podium and all, chatting with students and faculty. “We are in the people business,” Jarnigan said. “It is important to know each other on a personal as well as a professional level.” Jarnigan finds great strength in the student body and the faculty at Spain Park. “Every school has similarities, but what brings great schools to the front are the individual students and teachers,” he said. He believes that teachers have an impact on their students beyond the classroom and that each day in the classroom provides the opportunity to create stories for the future. “Every teacher has a story about a teacher in their past that has made an impact on their lives,” Jarnigan said. As a past band director, Jarnagin knows the importance of extracurricular activities. While some might separate the arts from the athletics and the academic from
Dr. Ken Jarnagin has been named principal of Spain Park High School. Photo courtesy of Hoover City Schools.
the extracurricular, he sees that the three are all connected. This connection is found through their ability to transform a student into a well-rounded, strong adult. Clubs and activities are crucial to a strong academic core. Jarnigan came to the Hoover City Schools in the summer of 2007 as the system’s new chief academic officer. For the 2010-2011 school year, he began a new role as Hoover City Schools’ fine arts director. He will replace principal Chris Shaw, who is now the school system’s director of planning. Jarnagin has won several educational awards throughout the years, most recently being named the 2007 Principal of the Year for the State of Tennessee, awarded by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. As for the future, with Jarnagin leading the charge, the school can look forward to new initiatives that will focus on utilizing Spain Park’s already strong resources. He looks forward to discovering more about the people and programs that make up SPHS.
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Students in Martha Manley’s eighth grade class use iPad 2s on a daily basis.
When you walk into Martha Manley’s eighth grade science class at Liberty Park Middle School, you will see the latest technology. As part of a pilot class, Manley’s students use iPad 2s on a daily basis. The iPads are used to access the class blog to find the daily agenda, handouts, reading assignments and more. Tests are given interactively and assignments are submitted via email or through the use of other electronic resources. The iPads keep the students engaged and motivated to learn by providing them with the ability to read articles, take notes, download books, watch
videos and research information without having to keep up with multiple pieces of paper. Some of the apps that are used include: NoteTaker HD, Penultimate, Coaster Physics, Pages, Angry Birds and Google Apps. The students have the option of taking the iPads home to read, study and/or complete assignments. The students in this iPad pilot class cover the same curriculum and content as the other traditional science classes. Senator “Jabo” Waggoner and the VHCS Technology Department provided funding for this iPad pilot class.
280 Living
www.280living.com
| April 2012
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B9
Chelsea High School By TABITHA FULTON
CHS hosts dance team, color guard tryouts
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Chelsea’s dance team, seen here performing at half-time during a previous Hornet football game, recently held tryouts. Photo by Cari Dean.
The Chelsea High School dance team recently held tryouts for the upcoming 2012-2013 team. A clinic was held for the girls trying out every day after school with the tryouts held on March 3. During the clinic, the girls worked on perfecting their technique and learned a jazz dance to the song “Heartbeat” by The Fray. For tryouts, the girls had to perform the dance they learned and also show their right/left leap, double pirouette, an eightcount of fouettes, two eight-counts of kicks, and right/left splits. By the end of the week, the girls were very sore but kept trying their best anyway. Although mock tryouts got cancelled because of bad weather, the girls still came out with positive attitudes on tryout day and did their very best. The sponsor for the dance team is Shannon Goodwin. The new 2012-2013 dance team is senior Rebecca Johnson, captain; junior Camila Cortes; sophomores Raven Whitfield, Keeley Pownall, Taylor Johnson, Hannah Ray, Breanna Cullwell, and Ashlyn Marshall; freshmen Rebecca Ray, Madison Bowles, Allie Smith, Elizabeth Hurley and Thierra Jones. Senior Courtney Carter also was selected for the dance team but will be performing as the feature twirler with the Marching Hornet Band next fall.
The Chelsea High School color guard held their tryouts for the new 2012-2013 season. A clinic was also held every day after school for the girls and their tryouts were March 9. Girls who had never spun a flag before tried out, making the week of the clinic and learning the basics quite difficult for some of them. During the clinic, the girls learned how to do drop spins, speed spins, pull hits, thumb flips, table tosses, flat tosses, 45 tosses and push tosses. Besides all this, the girls also had to learn a flag routine to the song “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele and a short dance to “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. Everything that the girls learned throughout the week was performed for judges on tryout day. All of the girls worked very hard with a positive attitude all week. Those selected for the team are senior Jordan Fowler, captain; juniors Natalie Abercrombie, Joanne Morgan, Alyssa Burnett and Chelsea Comans; sophomores Madison Cain, Leah Ney, Zoe Olson, and Katie Rose; and freshmen Hannah Heath, Hali Thomas, Kristin Santon, Kaci Coleman, Kendall Fuller, Autumn Cox, and Erin Kendrick. Congratulations to both teams and good luck for a great season!
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Briarwood Christian High School By COLLIER KAUFFMAN
Briarwood students travel on mission trip to Guatemala Students at BCS gave up a spring break of relaxation for a spring break of sharing Christ with people in Guatemala. A team of 43 from the school left for Huehuetenango, Guatemala, on March 16 for an eight-day mission trip. The team consisted of students ranging from eighth to 12th grade, plus a doctor, a nurse, two dentists, teachers, a few parents, a school administrator, and other Briarwood alumni. The team served at Tabernacle de la Fe, a Christian school in Huehuetenango. “Our main goal was to see lives changed as a result of sharing Christ,” said Barrie Downs, who organized the
$25
trip. “The people there are very humble and extremely grateful. We set up medical, dental, and pharmacy clinics.” The team had plenty to do while in Guatemala, including finishing a concrete reservoir to irrigate the school’s soccer fields and pumping water to the second floor bathrooms of the school. They also ministered to children within the school. The team taught students about the Bible, played games and made arts and crafts. The Briarwood students on the mission trip were able to see how life is lived in third world countries and how blessed they are here in the U.S.
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B10 |
April 2012
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Sports
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last the rest of my life. Do you have siblings that play sports? My older brother, Jay, played basketball at Spain Park, and my younger brother, Sam, plays basketball and golf at Spain Park. Who influences you most? Bradley Johnson, my older brother’s best friend was killed in a car accident when he was 17. He was a great golfer and a great person. He got me interested in golf and helped me with my game. He also told me not to give up basketball. I’m glad I listened to him and played both sports in high school. He still influences me because I think about him all the time.
Robby Prater Spain Park High School Senior Golf, Basketball Robby Prater signed a golf scholarship with the University of Alabama on national signing day. A member of Spain Park’s three-time 6A State Championship golf team, he is also a notable basketball player, but told us he felt golf was the most fitting sport for him to continue after high school. Robby’s awards for golf include 6A State Individual Champion, 2008. For basketball, he’s been named Hoover Player of the Year 2011, All-Area Team 2011 and 2012, All-Over-theMountain Team 2011 and 2012, and the Birmingham Tip Off Club Player of the
Robby Prater was named Hoover Player of the Year in 2011 for his skills on the court. Photo courtesy of the Prater family.
Week 2011-2012. He was the Spain Park Athlete of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2011. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned playing golf? I have learned patience and honesty from the game of golf.
Spain Park’s Robby Prater will play golf for the University of Alabama. Photo courtesy of the Prater family.
Share your thoughts on being part of teams at Spain Park. I enjoy being on both the basketball and golf teams at Spain Park. I have learned so much from coaches and teammates, and I will have memories from both that will
Share your thoughts on going to the University of Alabama. I’ve been going to Alabama football games since I was young, and I can’t wait to be a student there. The golf coaches are great, and I know all the players pretty well. I can’t wait to be a part of the team. Hopefully we will win a National Championship while I’m there. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Basketball, golf and hanging with friends.
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Sports
| April 2012
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B11
Oak Mountain welcomes new head football coach Cris Bell
OAK MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL Oak Mountain High School welcomed new head football coach Cris Bell along with his wife, Kim, daughters Haden, Pearson and Evie and son, Reese. Photo by Kathryn Acree.
BY KATHRYN ACREE Cris Bell has been announced as the head football coach of the Oak Mountain football team. On the night of the announcement Bell shared his outlook on the Eagles going forward: “My number one goal as the head football coach at Oak Mountain High School is to use the program to grow men. If they’re not better husbands, if they’re not better daddies, if they’re not better doctors…lawyers…I don’t care if they’re trash collectors. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing, if they’re not better for having been with us for one year, four years, however long it might be, then I’ve not done my job.” The Bell family will move from the Atlanta area where Bell was in his first year as an assistant football coach at Marietta High School. Previously, Bell served as athletic director and head football coach at Locus Grove, Ga.’s Strong Rock Christian School. The family includes Bell’s wife
of nearly 22 years, Kim, and daughters Haden, Pearson and Evie and son, Reese. Haden attends the University of Alabama. “I’m excited about the new coach,” said Molly Darby, whose son, Lee, is a freshman football player. “I’m excited about his avenue. Just from the information he gave the players at their team meeting this morning, (I like) his basic expectations: being respectful to parents first then teachers and coaches, that he expects them to sit in the front of the classroom. There’s certain things he’s expecting from them (the players) up front before they even get to football.” “There’s no reason why we can’t be the best football program in the state of Alabama,” Bell said of why he considered Oak Mountain. “It comes down to the people. The more I talked to the people, (in this area) the more convinced I became this is a great fit.”
Chelsea heats up 5A baseball, soccer action
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Chelsea’s Matthew Graben led the Hornets at the plate in their March 6 18-4 victory over the Shelby County Wildcats. Graben drove in two runs and scored two runs. Photo by Cari Dean.
Hornet’s outside midfielder Taylor Martindale helped lead the Chelsea boy’s soccer team to victory in their March 8 3-0 win over Calera. Photo by Cari Dean.
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B12 |
April 2012
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280 Living
Chelsea High School presents The King and I
Chelsea High students rehearse for the school’s production of The King and I April 20 - 22. Photo courtesy of Lisa Clark.
The Chelsea High School theatre department will perform The King and I April 20 – 22 at the school’s auditorium. More than 50 students, including several from Chelsea Middle and area elementary schools, are involved in the production. This is the first time the cast has expanded to include younger students from the Chelsea area. The King and I is a classic Rodgers and
Hammerstein musical that tells the story of English schoolteacher Anna, who serves as governess and tutor to the many children of the King of Siam in 1860s Bangkok. Performances will be April 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. and April 21 and 22 at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults. Theatre department students will begin presales of tickets in April.
Students get glimpse of steel from World Trade Center
Students from Haley Watts and Melissa Smith’s first grade class at Mt Laurel Elementary are pictured with Lt. Justin Glass of the Calera Fire Department, Jackson Moon and Micah Woodley of Cahaba Valley Fire and Rescue. The fire departments brought a piece of the World Trade Center to the school in February. “The purpose of the World Trade Center Steel Display is to share with the public, in an effort to allow them to relate back to 9/11, and pay tribute to those firemen that did not come home at the end of their shift,” said Glass.
Area Girl Scouts honored with Gold Awards By ALLIE KLAUBERT The Gold Award is the highest level of Girl Scout achievement. A recipient of the Gold Award has demonstrated excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. This year, five local teens were recognized by the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama. Abigail Brunner is a sophomore at Spain Park High School and an active member of her church parish. In addition to developing a program to increase youth involvement in her parish, Abigail planned many activities including skits, games, reflections and a guest speaker. “I learned that the younger youth look up to me,” Abigail said, “and therefore it is important that I lead by example and be a good Catholic Christian.” Grace Connolly, a junior at Spain Park High School, started a running club for Greystone Elementary students. Grace said she created Jag Running Club to focus on “preventing childhood obesity, not speed or ability.” “It’s important to make running fun because if they enjoy it, they will continue to do it,” she said.
Susan Dean, a senior track and cross country runner at Oak Mountain High School, renovated the middle school’s long jump pit. In addition to rebuilding the pit, Susan spent many afternoons coaching the middle school students. “The most successful part of my project was seeing the kids that I coached reach their season goals,” she said. When De Ora Marie Simon realized that children living at the Lovelady Center did not receive eye exams, the Briarwood Christian School sophomore decided to start the Eye Can See program. Working closely with The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry and the Lovelady Center, she incorporated eye exams into the children’s summer programs. Through her project, De Ora learned that leadership “requires working with others to accomplish a goal and compromising when needed.” Oak Mountain High School sophomore Myrah Taylor developed a recycling program at her school; see page A8 for a story on her project.
280 Living
www.280living.com
That’s Life “That’s not what I said! That’s not even what I was thinking!” he said, as he stood there flabbergasted at how his coworker had reacted and responded to the proposal just offered. “There is no way I would have said that because: one, I don’t think that way; and two, I know that’s not doable. Where did you come up with that?” “It’s what you said.” “Those were not my words.” “It’s what you said.” “I did not say that.” “Well, it’s what I heard.” And therein lies the rub. Sometimes what we say is not what the other person heard. This is sometimes called a different definition of terms. Sometimes it’s called mixed messages. Sometimes it’s called not being on the same page. Regardless, understanding is not occurring, and oftentimes this conversation spirals out of control into tangential issues, which turn out to be not pleasant, not fun and not connective (and quite exhausting). This can change. Conversation does not have to be this way. It begins with a simple shift of focus. Most often, we listen defensively, for how we will respond to the other person. In so doing, we miss some vital content because half of our brain is listening, some is comprehending, some is redefining and the rest is trying to form a response to what it perceives is being said. Some of the brain is already going into
fight-or-flight mode (and if you’ve read this column for some time, you know what gets stirred up and can start wreaking havoc— anxiety—woo-hoo! Yeah, let the good times get started.). Go back to the beginning. Rather than listening defensively for how you will respond, shift the focus to fully comprehending what is being said. Forget about how you will respond and focus on hearing the content of the other person as accurately as possible. This is listeningfor-understanding (rather than listeningfor-response). If something doesn’t make sense, rather than making assumptions (which you know the potential position that puts you in), ask questions. Let your primary focus in receiving the words of the other person be on fully comprehending and fully understanding what is being said. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but for we humans, it helps us avoid those notwhat-I-said/not-what-I-meant moments. It is much more pleasant, fun, restful and connective to actually be on the same page. Paul Johnson is the executive director as well as a professionally licensed marriage and family therapist and an associate licensed counselor at the Samaritan Counseling Center, which is now located at 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, 35242. You may reach him at 967-3660 or visit the Center’s website at www. samaritancc.org.
Pennies add up to help Leukemia
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B13
Spring & Easter Gifts are Here!
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Like a book we never read
| April 2012
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Mt Laurel Elementary School students collected pennies for patients to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during February. Each grade level competed to see who could bring in the most change everyday for two weeks. Kindergarten was the overall winner, collecting $600 combined with the other grades for a total of $1904.44. Photo by Athena David.
Grits Festival in Childersburg Childersburg’s Kymulga Grist Mill and Park will host a Grits Festival on Saturday, May 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival will include an arts and crafts area, music by the creek, a grits and cornbread contest, shrimp and grits, a grits bar, boiled peanuts, hamburgers, hot dogs and bratwurst, buttered corn on the cob, pinto beans and cornbread, ribbon fries and more. Activities for the kids include a cricket catching event, a catfish rodeo, pony rides, wagon rides and a petting farm. The City of Childersburg acquired the Kymulga Grist Mill and Park in June 2011. The mill was built around 1860 and is operated and managed by The Childersburg Historical Preservation Commission as a tourist attraction and venue for recreation, education, events and family fun. Proceeds from the park itself, fundraising events and donations are all used in maintaining, restoring and preserving the historical landmark, listed on the National Register of Historical
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Childersburg’s Kymulga Grist Mill and Park will host a Grits Festival on May 5. Photo courtesy of Kymulga Grist Mill.
Places. The event is part of the Alabama Tourism Department’s Year of Alabama Food celebrating our state’s unique flavors and local harvests. Entrance to the Grits Festival is free and a campground is available. The Kymulga Grist Mill and Park is located off County Road 180 in Childersburg at 7346 Grist Mill Road. For more information, go to www.kymulgagristmill.com.
Former Mazer’s on Greensprings in Homewood, AL
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B14 |
April 2012
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280 Living
Library Happenings North Shelby and Mt Laurel Public Libraries April Happenings North Shelby Library Special Programming Tuesday, April 3, 4 p.m.-Bunny and Carrot Dowor Hanger Craft. Hang this craft on your door and let the Easter bunny welcome all your holiday visitors. All ages. Registration required. Saturday, April 7, 10:30 a.m. for ages 4 and up and 11 a.m. for babies to 3 years old- Easter Egg Hunt. Bring your Easter basket and hop on over to the library to join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt! Kids 4 and up will hunt eggs in the Children’s Department beginning at 10:30 a.m. Babies up to 3 year olds will hunt eggs in the Meeting Room beginning at 11 a.m. We will have refreshments, special prizes, and a visit from a very furry guest! No registration is required. Wednesday, April 11, Immediately following Mr. Mac Storytime- Focus First Vision Screening Wednesday, April 18, 1 p.m.Homeschool Hangout: Poetry. To celebrate national poetry month we will be exploring some silly rhymes and trying our hands at writing some peculiar poetry of our own. Ages 8-12. Registration required. Thursday, April 19, 4 p.m. -B’Tween the Pages Book Club. Join us to discuss graphic novels and create book reviews. Snacks served. Ages 8-12. Registration required.
Saturday, April 21, 10 - 11:30 a.m., Lego Club. The library will provide the Legos and snacks, the kids will provide the imagination and creativity. Families are welcome to drop in anytime between 10 and 11 a.m. to build spectacular creations. Creations will then go on display in the Children’s Department. Snacks Served. All ages welcome. No registration is required. Saturday, April 28 from 2 – 3:30 p.m. -Family Movie Day – Happy Feet 2. Mumble’s son, Erik, is struggling to realize his talents in the Emperor Penguin world. Meanwhile, Mumble and his family and friends discover a new threat to their home -- one that will take everyone working together to save them. All ages welcome. No registration required. Snacks served. Monday, April 30 at 10:30 a.m.- El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Multilingual storytime). Join us to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros. We will be reading a storytime classic in several languages, making a craft, and having some yummy international snacks. All ages are welcome. Registration is required. Story-Time Programming Mondays, April 2, 9, 16 and 23 at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Toddler Tales Stories, songs, fingerplays and crafts make up a lively 30-minute program designed especially for short attention spans.
SCOTTKAY
Registration will begin one week prior to each storytime. Ages 19-36 months. Registration required. Tuesdays, April 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 9:30 – 10 a.m. Baby Tales Story Time A story time designed especially for babies and their caregivers. Stories and music provide interaction for the babies and time for caregivers to talk and share with each other. Ages: Birth to 18 months. Registration Required. Registration will begin one week prior to program date. Wednesdays, April 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 10:45 a.m. Mr. Mac (Storyteller Extraordinaire!) Stories, puppets, and lots of music for every member of the family. All ages. No registration. Thursdays, April 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 7 p.m. P. J. Story Time Come in your PJs, have milk and cookies, and hear some wonderful bedtime tales. All ages. No registration required. * For more information or to register for any of our programs or storytimes, call or email the Children’s Department at 205-439-5504 or northshelbyyouth@ gmail.com or visit our website at www. northshelbylibrary.org/children.html Teen Happenings New Foreign Language Books! The North Shelby Library is proud to announce we are now offering Young Adult fiction books in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. Stop by to see the collection and make recommendations for what to buy next. Teen Book Club Monday, April 16, 6 p.m. The Teen Book Club will meet to discuss The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Call or email Kate or Daniel at 439-5512 or
nsyouth@shelbycounty-al.com for more information.
Mt Laurel Public Library Toddler Tales Wednesday, April 4 and 18 – 10 a.m.: Registration begins two weeks prior to each storytime. Ages 36 months and younger. Registration required. Storytime with Ms. Kristy Wednesday, April 4 and 18 – 11 a.m.: Stories, music, and more for every member of the family. All ages. No registration required. Mt Laurel Book Club Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m.: The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje. Please contact Dee at 439-5500 or green. dee39@gmail.com for more information. Anniversary Celebration Tuesday, April 10, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.: The Mt Laurel Library turns two on April 10. Stop by for a cookie! Mt Laurel Festival Storytimes Saturday, April 14, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.: All ages. No registration required. Friends of the Mt Laurel Library’s Used Book Sale Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Email the Friends of the Mt Laurel Library at mtlaurellibraryfriends@gmail.com for more information. Crafty Saturday Saturday, April 28, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: All ages with parent help. Registration not required but supplies are limited. *For more information on these events or to register, call or email the Mt Laurel Library at 991-1660 or mtlaurellibrary@ gmail.com for more information.
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| April 2012
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B15
Life Actually BY KARI KAMPAKIS
A God-shaped hole Have you ever heard the term “Godshaped hole”? I heard it for the first time last year, and I knew immediately that I’d share it with my readers one day. In essence, a “God-shaped hole” describes the spiritual space inside all of us that only God can fill. He created us for eternity, and our hearts innately desire to connect with Him. We yearn for this relationship, yet we try stuffing our Godshaped hole with earthly pleasures—work, family, passions, possessions, sports...the list goes on. Sometimes the fit is completely off, like forcing a square peg in a round hole. Other times our earthly pleasures work like putty, filling the gap temporarily. We think we’re happy until one day, without warning, the void reopens, leaving us back at square one. In thinking about my God-shaped hole, I’m reminded of a Bible study I did many years ago where the small group leader had us name the idols in our lives. Initially I thought I didn’t have any because I’d worshipped one God my entire life. Bowing to a false one had never crossed my mind. But as women started spouting answers, I remembered how broad an umbrella “idol” can be. Anything that overshadows our relationship with God is game. One woman in my group admitted, “My idol is my daughter. I worship the ground she walks on.” Although I didn’t have children at the time, I related to this. I could picture myself down the road, so wrapped up in parenting that everything else took a backseat. It was then I realized that even good things created by God— motherhood, for example—can become idols if they consume us. And so I pose the question: What idols do you stuff in your God-shaped hole? What great loves do you pursue that, over time, still leave you with a nagging
dissatisfaction? For me, two things come to mind: my family and my writing. These are my passions, areas where I want to excel. They take up a lot of energy and time, often leaving me too drained for God. He gets what’s leftover—which is unremarkable, to say the least. Of course, I fall victim to material idols, too, although I have grown to realize how meaningless “stuff” is. Rarely do I love anything as much as I do at the time of purchase. My infatuation with inanimate objects fades quickly, and the only way to get that thrill back is to buy something new—another piece of furniture, another dress, another bag or pair of shoes. It’s a dangerous cycle that’s easy to get caught up in, and it takes conscious effort to stay in check. To me, a God-shaped hole explains why someone facing some terrible misfortune can be at peace while someone with abundant riches can feel hollow and alone. People with nothing have nowhere to put their trust except in God. Out of putty, they fill their hole with Him, inspiring others with their show of faith. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has “planted eternity in the human heart.” We were created to be with God, and no earthly idols can fulfill us like Him. Even our best relationships—with our spouse, our mom, our sister or best friend—will disappoint us and fail to measure up sometimes. Only one thing can fill the God-shaped hole, and that is a relationship with God. As we prepare for Easter, may we all remember our God-shaped hole and rejoice in the Savior who died on the cross to fill this void inside us. Through Him we have a means to eternity. In Him, and only Him, we are complete. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Birmingham mom of four with a background in PR, writing and photography. Visit her website at www. karikampakis.com, find her on Facebook and Twitter, or contact her at kari@karikampakis. com.
My South By RICK WATSON
Roses
Jilda and I have been engaged in a war in our neighborhood for years. It’s not an armed conflict, but a “War of the Roses.” You see, Jilda and I are in competition with her brother Ricky Phillips to see who has the greenest thumb. Jilda and I grow tubs of tomatoes, piles of potatoes, sacks of squash and pecks of peas. Our apples, pears, blueberries and watermelons are to die for, but our roses look like they’ve been sprayed with Roundup. Ricky, on the other hand, is a plumber and doesn’t have a lot of time for much gardening, but he grows beautiful roses. We have several bushes, but none of them do that well. The best bush we have is our John Rose that our friend John Elliott gave us a cutting of many years ago. He has since passed away, but the climbing rose bush he gave us flourishes with roses that are as pink as a baby’s cheek. We planted them down at the front of our house on the bank near our mailbox, and we named them after him. Each year our John bushes throw off thousands of blooms, but they only grow to about the size of a silver dollar. Don’t get me wrong, they are beautiful, but they are more like rose-lets. Our other roses are just sad.
Ricky, on the other hand, effortlessly grows roses as big as softballs and bigger. It’s a source of contention. He called early this morning to rub a little salt in the wound: “Hey, one of my pink roses is blooming. Why don’t y’all stop by and look at it the next time you’re here?” You can almost hear him snicker. I wanted go over there and smack that smirk off his face, but then who’d bail me out when one of my “simple plumbing repair jobs” goes south and my kitchen is under water? I had a recent dishwasher episode that wasn’t pretty. After Jilda and I finished our walk this morning, we stepped over to his house to have a look. Although it pains me to say it, his roses are stunning! I’m not sure if he puts some kind of special sauce on his bushes or what, but he spanks us silly each year in the rose war. “I don’t do much to them,” he says in his oh-shucks-I’m-justlucky tone of voice. I put out a special appeal to my friends across the country asking for help with my roses. A bunch of people responded, but almost everyone was as frustrated as me. I’m still at a loss for how to beat my brother-in-law in the War of the Roses. If you have any helpful advice, please send me an email at cwatson310@charter.net.
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| April 2012
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