Volume 2 | Issue 11 | March 2015
Countdown to camp
Moving forward
Inside, find the Vestavia Voice’s guide to the best summer camps for kids. From art to sports to outdoor adventures, we break down area programs.
See page B2
Community awards
C OMMUNITY
M EMBER OF THE YEAR
C OMMUNITY
Construction projects totaling C AUSE $125 OF THEmillion YEAR
to fuel city development
By KATIE TURPEN Every community has a person and organization that stand out and make a difference. This issue includes a ballot for our cause and community member of the year. Cast your vote by March 10.
It’s hard to ignore excavators knocking down buildings and bulldozers moving dirt on the central U.S. 31 corridor. Residents who have been hungry for growth can now physically see
City Manager Jeff Downes stands on the top floor of the new City Hall and surveys the progress of construction along the central U.S. 31 corridor. Photo by Katie Turpen.
it happening. Over the next 18 months, Vestavia Hills will experience $125 million worth of construction. These projects include the new Sprouts Farmers Market with companion retail, new City Hall, America’s First Federal Credit Union and
Patchwork Farms development. Once completed, City Manager Jeff Downes said the city anticipates an increase of more than $2 million in annual revenue.
See CONSTRUCTION | page A23
See page A18
INSIDE Sponsors...............A2 City .......................A5 Business ..............A8 Community ........A14
School House......B10 Sports ..................B14 Real Estate...........B16 Calendar ..............B17
Garden club shares Sibyl’s history By KATIE TURPEN
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Eight white columns welcome drivers home as they reach the top of the hill on U.S. 31 near Shades Crest Road. The Sibyl Temple stands where it is today thanks to one local garden club. Efforts are underway to make sure the landmark remains a proud symbol of Vestavia Hills. The Alabama Historical Commission recently awarded the city a $2,500 grant for improvements to the structure. Many residents may be unaware of its history, which dates back to 1925 when George Ward, former mayor of Birmingham, completed his home on the crest of
See SYMBOL | page A23
Several members of the Vestavia Hills Garden Club stand in front of the Sibyl Temple. The group was formed in the 1940s and is responsible for maintaining the grounds around the temple with help from the city. Photo by Katie Turpen.
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Photo of the Month
In February, KultureCity, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources to families affected by autism, presented VHEW with two special sensory toys and a $500 donation to the school’s resource room. On hand for the presentation were VHEW special education teacher Kem Bennett, VHEW Principal Kim Hauser, Diane Zaragoza and Dr. Michele Kong. Photo by Katie Turpen.
Editor’s Note By Rebecca Walden It is with sweet relief that Even though “springing I greet the month of March. forward” on March 8 means I’ve always found the first I’ll likely be too body clock two months of the year excrurocked to fully appreciate ciatingly boring and, accordthe first day of spring when ingly, slow to pass. Shout out it arrives on the 20th, at least it’ll be here. Along with my here to a certain “sunny” kindergarten class that allowed sudden urge to weed and me to teach Junior Achievemulch our home’s exterior, ment to them last month. and to purge as much inteKeeping the company of a rior “stuff” as my family classroom of inquisitive five will allow. Walden year olds while breaking Stuff for stuff’s sake is down the concepts of financial literacy, suffocating. The older I become, the entrepreneurism and work readiness made more strongly I feel that the “things” in for an amusing February indeed. our home ought to be there for a useful Even so, I’m beyond ready to march purpose. For me, it’s a beautiful sight into this month of rapid change. indeed to see a charitable donation truck Bring it all on – the good (daffodil on our street, taking underutilized, aweblooms, garage sales), the bad (erratic some things and providing the items to temperatures, anyone?) and yes, the ugly those who actually need them. (bathing suit shopping, insert tears and No sooner will have I purged vast gnashing of teeth here). amounts of distracting clutter from our
homestead than it will be time to dive deep into Holy Week. Without the fanfare (or stress) of Advent, Lent is far and away the liturgical season when I grow the most on my faith journey. No matter how tired some may find the metaphorical references between the spring season and personal renewal, that message still resonates powerfully for me. It’s embodied perfectly in one of my favorite hymns (written by C. Michael Hawn): Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. A most beautiful, hopeful time of year is upon us. As we march into this loveliest of seasons, may you find your spirit refreshed and renewed.
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A Little Something (B18) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A17) Alabama Outdoors (B11) Alabama Power (A3) ARC Realty (A2) At Home Furnishings (A3) BAM Sports Grill (A10) Bar 31 (A8) Barganier & LeCroy Dentistry (B17) Batts’ Chimney Services (A14) Bedzzz Express (B20) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (B15) Birmingham Heart Clinic (A15) Birmingham Museum of Art (B5) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (A11) Bistro V (B15) Bruster’s Real Ice Cream (B9) Cabinetry Refinishing & Restoration (A1) Case Remodeling (B17) Classic Gardens (B14) Conour Insurance Inc. (B16) Construx (A13) Cottontails Village (B13) Donatos (A7) Eye Do (B14) Eye See Optical (B11) Fancy Goods Variety (B19) Fi-Plan Partners (A13) flip-flops & what nots (A15) Granite Transformations (B13) Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (A17, B16) Homewood Toy & Hobby (A12) Hoover Title Mart (A10) In Shape MD Wellnes Clinic (A2) Issis & Sons (A23) John Henley State Farm Insurance (B13) King Acura (B1) Monograms Plus (A14) Moran’s Rocky Ridge Hardware (A19) Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese (B16) Pappas’ Grill (A14) Pars Gallery of Fine Oriental Rugs (A21) Planet Fitness (A21) Primrose School at Liberty Park (B8) RealtySouth Jana Hanna (A7) RealtySouth Marketing (A5) Red Mountain Theatre Company (B5) Remax Southern Homes - Becky Hicks (A11) Rocky Ridge Learning Center (A8) Royal Automotive (A24) Samford Summer Camp (B6) Sarver Orthodontics (B8) Stephanie Steinmetz DDS (B18) Tangles Hair Salon (B18) The Altamont School (B2) The clothes tree (A16) The Maids (A1) The Pit Crew (B8) The UPS Store - Cahaba Heights (A16) UAB Department of Psychiatry (B10) Uptown Nail Spa (B12) Vestavia Hills Lutheran Church (A9) Vestavia Hills Soccer Club (B7) Vestavia Sunoco and Tire Express (B12) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A12, A19, B9) Water Drainage Solutions (A9) Weigh To Wellness (A6) Whale of a Sale (A9) YMCA Camp Cosby (B3) YMCA of Greater Birmingham (B4)
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March 2015 • A5
City Mayor’s Minute
By Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza As we move forward into March, Vestavia Hills is on the move. Many of you have likely seen the activity in and around the site of the new City Hall. Across the street, the Ruby Tuesday and Pizza Hut buildings are coming down as we make way for Sprouts, which will start their excavation work shortly. Nearby, the old library is also down and America’s First Federal Credit Union is preparing their construction. The new City Hall itself is progressing well too. As of this time, the project is on time and within budget. We anticipate completion by September. Many of you have also been following the progress of the Library’s new parking lot. We have experienced a delay in moving a utility pole and the weather has not been very cooperative lately, but aside from those issues, we are hoping for a finish date by the end of March. Out in the Cahaba Heights area, we are carrying forward with the new Zaxby’s, and Daniel Corporation is moving forward with the Patchwork Farms development; this includes the Aspire Rehab Facility, and three other office buildings, including both retail and multi-family housing. At this time I’d also like to update you on
Highway 31 paving. This is a project that ALDOT is moving forward on; they expect to start by the middle of March. With regard to city street paving, the City Council went ahead and approved $1.2 million in paving projects, which will encompass approximately 13 miles. Dunn Paving is about halfway through with this project. Lastly, as we move closer to spring, I hope residents will notice the improved southern gateway entrance to the city, coming from Hoover. Workers have started there and we should be completed with it towards the end of March. In addition, we’ve hired a firm, Specialty Turf, to come in and handle field maintenance inside the fences of all our athletic complexes. This includes working with the infields, fertilization of the outfields and overall grooming of the fields. You should see a big improvement in the overall appearance of our fields as a result. Your Mayor,
Alberto C. “Butch” Zaragoza
Vestavia Hills ranked as safest city in Alabama
City Manager Jeff Downes spoke at a recent meeting. Photo by Katie Turpen.
By KATIE TURPEN During a January City Council meeting, City Manager Jeff Downes announced that Vestavia Hills was recently ranked as the safest city to live in Alabama by Motovo Real Estate, a real estate research site. Movoto Real Estate recently released their 2015 list of the safest places to live in Alabama based off of the recently updated 2013 FBI Uniform Crime Report. Vestavia Hills placed first on the list in a tie with Helena. According to Movoto’s article, Vestavia Hills had the lowest number of crimes per person in the state. For more information on Movoto’s list, click here. “We are extremely proud of our police department,” said Downes, who recognized Lieutenant Brian Gilham during the meeting. Also during the meeting, City Manager Jeff Downes gave an update on several ongoing
projects throughout the city of Vestavia Hills. Downes announced that three fields at Wald Park have received improvements and other fields in the city will be worked on soon. “We are glad work has been done in earnest,” Downes said. Downes also announced that erosion measures have been put in place at the site of the future Sprouts Farmer’s Market on U.S. 31 and the trees are currently being planted at the city’s southern interchange. Also during the meeting, the council: } Passed a resolution authorizing the purchase of radio equipment for the police and fire departments. } Gave conditional use for home occupation at 702 Hampden Place Circle. } Changed the date of the regularly scheduled council meeting for May 25, 2015 to May 28, 2015 in observance of Memorial Day.
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Vestavia Voice
Council passes UAB football resolution
Council adopts Cahaba Heights Village Plan By KATIE TURPEN During the Feb. 9 meeting, the Vestavia Hills City Council adopted an ordinance accepting the Cahaba Heights Village Plan, which is an amendment to the 2008 Cahaba Heights Community Plan. In early December, the city held a town hall meeting at Cahaba Heights United Methodist Church with more than 100 people in attendance. Discussion focused on development options for the commercial district surrounding Pump House Road, Cahaba Heights Road and Dolly Ridge Road. Input from the meeting was taken and categorized to form the Cahaba Heights Village Plan.
Opportunities include proposed Cahaba Heights Methodist Church redevelopment and a proposed civic center that would include a civic building and civic green. Connectivity, a longtime concern of local residents, is also addressed in the plan. Opportunities include extending Pipe Line Trail to The Summit and creating pedestrian connections to retail on Crosshaven Drive and Green Valley Road. “This is an illustrious masterpiece of what could be and a guiding principal of what Cahaba Heights should be,” said City Manager Jeff Downes, adding that the plan will serve as a guide for the Planning and Zoning Commission moving forward.
UAB football player Timothy Alexander shared his personal journey with the City Council during the Feb. 9 meeting. Photo by Katie Turpen,.
By KATIE TURPEN At its Feb. 9 meeting, the Vestavia Hills City Council passed a resolution urging the University of Alabama Board of Trustees and UAB president to reconsider the cancellation of the UAB football program. “This is not a resolution we have taken lightly,” said Mayor Butch Zaragoza. “UAB has a major impact on our city.” The resolution states that several citizens of Vestavia Hills attend, have attended or work at UAB, and the mayor and the City Council believe in the values of the community which athletics provide to the college environment and experience. The resolution asks the UA Board of Trustees and UAB president “to reconsider the discontinuation of the athletic programs that were recently canceled” and encourages them “to be more transparent in their decision making that not only affects the University, but the municipalities that support athletics and academics at UAB.” Several council members spoke about the importance of a governing body
showing transparency in decisions. “UAB is a public university with public funds. It should be very clear what is going on,” said Councilman Steve Ammons. “This hits very close to home for me.” Several UAB football players also addressed the council during the meeting. Percy Coleman, a 1997 VHHS graduate, spoke about his time playing for Buddy Anderson at VHHS and going on to play football at UAB. “I know that my success has been related to football,” Coleman said. “I will always be a Vestavia Hills Rebel and a UAB Blazer at heart.” UAB football player Timothy Alexander also shared his personal journey with the council. “I was the only guy on the team that was paralyzed from the waist down. I just wanted to play football,” Alexander said. “I’ve talked to a lot of guys from the Vestavia Hills community. This is important, and I wanted to come here and thank you all for what you are doing.”
Car break ins not on the rise, police say By SYDNEY CROMWELL Despite several recent reports and arrests for thefts from vehicles, Lt. Brian Gilham of the Vestavia Hills Police said the city’s car break-ins are actually lower than normal. From Nov. 1 to Jan. 22, Gilham said there were 22 reported vehicle break-ins, a slight decrease from the same time period last year. There was no pattern of areas being hit, but Gilham said most of the thefts occurred during the day. Several took place in gym parking lots because of people leaving their purses or wallets in vehicles while exercising. “Thieves are keenly aware of the practice and that these are potential target-rich environments,” Gilham said. During the same time period, Mountain Brook experienced 20 car break-ins, Homewood experienced 36 and Hoover
experienced 115, including one in which a resident exchanged fire with the burglar. Hoover and Mountain Brook police have also said their city’s reported break-ins are not higher than normal, though Homewood is experiencing a surge. While there has been speculation that these break-ins are the work of a local gang called Goons Taking Over (GTO), Gilham said the Vestavia Hills Police have no evidence linking the group to any of the crimes. The Vestavia police have made one arrest in conjunction with the break-ins. Gilham said residents should be careful with their valuable items and noted that most of the crimes could have been prevented if vehicle owners locked their doors and removed or concealed any valuables. To report suspicious activity, call the Vestavia Hills Police at 823-1153.
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • A7
Vestavia Hills honored at Addiction Coalition Breakfast By KATIE TURPEN For its bold and honest approach to substance abuse in the community, Vestavia Hills has become an inspiration to communities across the state of Alabama. On Thursday, Jan. 29, the Addiction Prevention Coalition hosted a “Wake Up” breakfast to a packed house at Vestavia Country Club. The event focused on the drug and alcohol culture among local youth and how to better prevent substance abuse. The Addiction Prevention Coalition is a grassroots organization that helps prevent substance abuse by fostering community collaborations, facilitating student-led drug prevention programs and expanding access to services across Alabama. The coalition is planning to partner with Vestavia Hills High School in the coming year. During the event, Addiction Prevention Coalition Executive Director Sandor Cheka presented the city of Vestavia Hills with the Community Impact Award, honoring the city for its efforts in fighting substance abuse. “As we’ve watched this community, we’ve been inspired,” Cheka said. “What’s going on in Vestavia Hills is people being proactive together.” During the breakfast, VHHS graduate Brad Blount shared his story of addiction and recovery. Blount was on his high school’s football, baseball and wrestling teams. In 2008,
Upcoming Help the Hills event
Addiction Prevention Coalition Executive Director Sandor Cheka presented the city of Vestavia Hills with the Community Impact Award, honoring the city for its efforts in fighting substance abuse. Photo by Katie Turpen.
he began taking painkillers after a shoulder injury crushed his dream of playing college baseball. Blount was in emotional and physical pain, but when he took a Lortab he immediately felt a weight lifted. Eventually, Blount was taking pain pills every two to four hours and became all too good at hiding it from his family and friends. “If I ever thought signs were noticeable I would do whatever I could to protect my addiction and cover it up,” Blount said. “There was a time when
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824-1112 CATERING TOO!
I thought I would never take a sober breath again.” Blount’s addiction to pain pills eventually led to heroin addiction. Heroin deaths are on the rise, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. Deputy Coroner Bill Yates reports there were 129 confirmed heroin deaths last year, compared to 58 in 2013. Luckily, through the support of family and friends, Blount was able to overcome his addiction. He has now been clean for a year and a half and
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is sharing his story with parents and students everywhere. His advice for parents is to not let their emotions get the best of them when speaking with their children. “You don’t need to say things like ‘I didn’t raise you this way.’ They already know that you didn’t raise them that way,” Blount said. “It’s important not to minimize what they are going through.” Blount encouraged parents to regularly communicate with their children and to watch for suspicious behaviors
On April 7 at 6 p.m. at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, Help the Hills will host a session with parents and children. Dr. Stephen Taylor will be the speaker. For the past 19 years, Taylor has worked as a licensed, board-certified general, child/ adolescent, and addiction psychiatrist. He is also certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine as a specialist in addiction medicine. For more about the Addiction Prevention Coalition, visit addictionpreventioncoalition. org. For more about the Help the Hills initiative, visit leadershipvestaviahills.com.
such as frequent unexplained disappearances, a drop in grades and loss of interest in activities. “Don’t risk the life of your child by letting things slide,” said Blount. “You can’t alter a choice a child is going to make, but you can give them every reason possible to make the right decision.”
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Soul Food Kitchen
The Best Meat & Veggies in Vestavia Lunch Hours: Mon-Fri 11 am - 3 pm On Hwy 31 Across From Arby’s 1485 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills, Al Dine in or carry out • 824.3160
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March 2015 • A9
Now Open
New Ownership
Lice Clinics of America is now open at 3118 Belwood Drive, Suite 102. LCA is a science-based lice removal clinic offering a variety of options for treatment. 968-1239, lcabirmingham.com
The Ranch House, 2931 Columbiana Road, is under new ownership and is now called Ranch House and Makarios Kabob & Grill. The restaurant features many of the same dishes that have been available for years while also offering Mediterranean dishes from Makarios Southside restaurant. 979-6495
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Angela M. Hayes, a licensed counselor in Alabama and a National Certified Counselor, has opened an office at 4268 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 122. She has worked with both children and adults and provides individual, family and group counseling. 222-9574
2
Coming Soon Bar Method, 1072 3 The Montgomery Highway, will be opening soon. The exercise studio specializes in the bar exercising technique. barmethod.com
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Anniversaries
Banana Republic at The Summit has moved to a new location in the shopping center between Chuy’s and The Cheesecake Factory. The store has a “revolution” design with a boulevard down the center and small, boutique-like rooms with their own themes. Trader Joe’s will move into Banana Republic’s former space between Belk and Barnes & Noble. 298-0260, bananarepublic.com
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you are are in in aa brick brick and and mortar mortar business business IfIf you in Vestavia Vestavia Hills Hills and and want want to to share share in your event event with with the the community, community, your let us us know. know. let
Hirings and Promotions
Relocations and Renovations The Cahaba Heights Winn-Dixie, 3925 Crosshaven Drive, has completed a total renovation of its store. 969-2307, winndixie.com
to share?
Steel City Pops, 329 Summit Blvd., is now selling Cookie Pops, which feature a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie or brownie frozen inside of a traditional pop. Flavors include Vanilla Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Brownie, Chocolate Brownie and Coffee Brownie. 969-8770, steelcitypops.com
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RealtySouth’s Over the MountainActon Road office, 2409 Acton Road, Suite 137, has welcomed Steven Bailey as a new Realtor. 978-9000, realtysouth.com
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Business news Expansion
News and Accomplishments
NobleBank & Trust plans to open its first Birmingham-area branch at 361 Summit Blvd., Suite 100, in midMarch. noblebank.com
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Coming Soon
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Expansion Email dan@vestaviavoice.com dan@vestaviavoice.com Email
Kwik Kopy Printing, 2017 Canyon 10 Road, Suite 111, celebrated its 30th anniversary in December. The shop offers multi-color printing, black-and-white and color copies, laminating and binding along with graphic design. It is owned by Jim Anderson. 979-5247, kwikkopy.com The UPS Store, 732 Montgomery Highway, celebrated its 15th anniversary in December. The store offers packing and shipping, black-and-white and color copies, mailbox rental, notary and fax service, passport photos, office supplies, laminating and binding. It is owned by Jim Anderson. 978-0770, store3091@theupsstore.com
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Fancy Goods Variety, Rocky celebration March 10 during normal If you are2512 in a brick and mortaronbusiness Ridge Road, Suite 102, celebrated business hours. in Vestavia Hills and want to share its third anniversary in February. The store 968-0909, thebluewillow.com your event with the community, carries a wide variety of gift items, toys, party supplies and more. let us know. 978-1451, fancygoodsvariety.com Psychiatric Services, with 14 Alabama a location at 2868 Acton Road, has closed all its clinics. Blue Willow, 3930 Crosshaven 13 The 968-8360, apsy.com Drive, will have its 16th anniversary on March 8. The store will host an anniversary
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Closings
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Chamber
2015-16 Chamber Chair Angie McEwen of Butler & Snow, Gary Warner, UAB Director of Research in Computer Forensics, Vestavia Hills Mayor Butch Zaragoza and Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Karen Odle.
Virginia Boliek of Dominic, Feld, Hyde, Cindy Lambert of Land Title Company and Lois Weinblatt of True North Business Development..
LeArden Pike of ELM Construction and Amanda Parker of Liberty Park Joint Venture. Photos by Rebecca Walden.
Cyber security expert educates, entertains crowd at February Luncheon By REBECCA WALDEN Bespectacled, tall and inquisitive looking, Gary Warner exhibits every bit of the collegiate professor persona you’d expect. Less expected? The fact that he counts the FBI, the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security among his clients. He operates from a facility recently overhauled by Facebook — with funding they received from a summary judgment against cyber criminals, thanks to the advanced security work conducted by Warner and his malware analysis team. During his Feb. 10 presentation at the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Warner captivated the audience with several stories about how his team has engaged with national and international law enforcement to outfox
some of the world’s most aggressive and elusive cyber criminals. He also revealed some of the ethical dilemmas that arise in his work, one of which is the concern that through the courses he teaches on this subject at UAB, he may be training some who will go on to conduct cybercrime themselves. “This came up during an NSA event I attended, and I asked for guidance on it,” said Warner. “The gentleman I spoke to asked me how many American students I typically have in my class, which at that time was around 38. He then asked me how many international students I have, which averages around six. His final advice to me was to keep at it. At that rate, as long as I am training six times as many of us as I am them, particularly when the talent pool for this field is in such a deficit, I should keep
doing it.” Citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, which puts cyber IT security at a 490% manpower gap, Warner added that he’s actively looking for talented, highly engaged undergraduates, and in some cases high school students, interested in gaining exposure to the field via his lab this summer. He cited the pay at $800 per week, and encourages those who think they have the attributes and aptitude for this type of experiential summer learning experience to contact him at gar@uab.edu. “Many of my students have gone on to work in this field within the government, at corporations like Microsoft, and in finance,” he said. Warner’s presentation concluded with numerous questions from the audience, not the least of which was personal protection. Specifically,
audience members showed concern about how to best protect themselves from the kinds of stealth spam and malware programs that operate undetected. Besides recommending a rock-solid backup program and a hybrid anti-malware combination of free and licensed software (he was clear that neither are 100 percent effective on their own), Warner was blunt. “It’s what we’re working on in the lab right now,” he said. “One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was to tell a chief of police that he had to pay money to a Russian cyber criminal to get his files back.” The Chamber’s monthly luncheon series will reconvene on Mar. 10 with guest speaker John Norris, an economist with Oakworth Capital.
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • A11
A little bit of everything By REBECCA WALDEN Tanglewood resident Diane Clower longed to open a business all her own even though she was in a seemingly perfect job at the helm of Virginia College. In February 2012, she, along with her husband, Ed, and daughter Leslie Self, made that a reality when they opened Fancy Goods Variety in Rocky Ridge Plaza. “My mother thought that within this area, there was room to sell gifts, particularly toys and party favor-type supplies,” said Self, who manages day-to-day operations and is the face of the store for many of Fancy Good’s regulars. The store boasts a large selection of Melissa and Doug items, kitchen towels, tote bags and inspirational gifts, including ornaments, crib crosses and stationery. It also offers complimentary gift wrap and provides monogramming services with a four-day turnaround. In-the-know parents have made Fancy Goods Variety a must for
custom-made party favor bags, which can be assembled with a unique and affordable array of items, and wrapped in coordinating party colors. Self said the store’s wrapping materials, including their wide range of colored raffia and cellophane bags, in hard-to-find-elsewhere sizes are a steady staple for shoppers. Clower also designs décor wire mesh bows per customer specifications, which range in price from $10 to $50, and are available within a two to three day turnaround. For Self, who spent two decades of her career working in real estate law, the retail setting is a refreshing change. The store’s commitment to civic activities is a particular passion for her. “During the 2014 Vestavia Hills Elementary East Halloween Carnival, we donated $500 worth of toys,” she said. “Leading up to Veteran’s Day, we also donated a portion of proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project, which supports Lakeshore Rehab’s programs for vets.” Self plans to continue with other
Leslie Self, daughter of Fancy Goods Variety owners Ed and Diane Clower, is busily preparing for the store to enter its fourth year of operation. 2015 highlights will include the store’s second ever Arts on the Plaza event, featuring unique goods from local artisans. Photo by Rebecca Walden.
events in 2015. The mission is important for Clower as well. “Our customers are the best around,” she said. “We enjoy participating in community activities and seeking ways to enhance our contribution to Vestavia Hills and the surrounding communities.” In its three-year existence, the store has evolved its inventory from small toys and party favors to include higher end items, including several lines of custom-made jewelry. Their most popular lines are Freshie & Zero out of Nashville, Belle Vita from Little
Rock, Arkansas, and Hoover’s own Majestees. In addition to sourcing new ideas from her twice-annual trips to the Atlanta market, Self networks with area artisans to carry their items as well. From this effort, Fancy Goods hosted its first-ever Arts on the Plaza in December 2014. The event featured a dozen local artisans and by Self’s account, was a huge success in terms of bringing new foot traffic to the shopping district. Fancy Goods Variety is located in the Rocky Ridge Plaza Shopping
Center. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. For more information, call 978-1451.
Fancy Goods Variety 978-1451 2512 Rocky Ridge Road fancygoodsvariety.com
A12 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
Taking the time to love Celebrating the lives of Tommy and Betty Watkins By KATIE TURPEN For many residents, “Watkins Cleaners” is more than just the name of a familiar dry cleaner. It’s a name revealing a lasting legacy. Tommy and Betty Watkins started the business in 1956 and have left a notable impact on the Vestavia Hills community they tirelessly served. On Jan. 8, Betty Watkins passed away at age 84. She was born in Birmingham where she spent her entire life. She married high school sweetheart Tommy, who passed away in 2000 at age 70. The couple was married for 53 years and had five children, Mark, Steve, Johnny, Danny and Jane. They also had 13 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Tommy built the family’s home in 1958 on Frontier Drive in Vestavia Hills. Their daughter Jane and her husband, Jim Sharp, still live in the home today. In 1956, the couple opened the first Watkins Cleaners in Homewood and then added more locations in Vestavia Hills. Jane recalls all the hard work and love that her
parents poured into the family business. “It was back in a time when small businesses were truly respected,” said Betty’s daughter Jane. “It was truly a family effort to run the business.” Jane also remembers sit-down family dinners and her parents taking the children and grandchildren on trips across the United States in the family’s large RV. They would travel to places such as a Christian camp in Arkansas and her mother would do the cooking inside the RV. Jane believes her father instilled in her a love of the outdoors. “I always appreciated my mother letting me play with Dad,” said Jane. “We would go mountain biking and do other things outside.” Betty and Tommy were both charter members of Liberty Church in Hoover as well Saint Marks United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills. Betty loved to play the piano, sing, dance and play poetry. She was also a member of the Birmingham Civic Chorus and Sweet Adelines, a worldwide organization of women singers. At her mother’s memorial service, Jane recalls
In 1956, Tommy and Betty Watkins opened the first Watkins Cleaners in Homewood and later added more locations in Vestavia Hills. Photo courtesy of Jane Sharp.
many women approaching her with memories. “She played such a vital role in women’s lives. She had a passion for ministry.” Jane said. “She took time loving and praying for people.” Jane credits her parents for her hard work ethic as well as serving as role models for a happy marriage. “She let me know what a good marriage looks like,” Jane said. “I truly know what it is like to love someone more everyday.” Jim, a longtime member of the Vestavia Hills City Council, remembers his mother-in-law
fondly. He now runs Sharp Cleaners, which he bought from Tommy and Betty. “She always accepted me as her own son and made me feel comfortable,” Jim said. At Betty’s service, the family passed out a book of poetry containing poems that Betty had written mostly in the middle of the night when inspiration struck her. “Her service was truly a celebration of her life,” Jane said, recalling the crowded room. “What blessed me is just how many people remembered her.”
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • A13
Spring for a new look
A14 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
Community Collage Designer Consignment hosting fourth annual PromPalooza
PromPalooza 2015 Saturday, March 7 9 a.m.-noon Collage Designer Consignment at the Vestavia City Center
Photo courtesy of Tracy True Dismukes.
Collage Designer Consignment will present PromPalooza on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m.noon. All proceeds from the fourth annual prom gown charity event will go to My Sister’s Closet of the YWCA. This clothes closet is designed to assist women who are in need of career clothes for job interviews and new employment. For many years, My Sister’s Closet has given away prom gowns to girls in need. They have now partnered with Collage by combining Collage’s annual gown event with MSC’s gown giveaway. While some girls will have vouchers for a free gown, anyone can come buy a prom
gown for just $20.15. Hundreds of gowns have been donated to MSC, and all the girls will be able to choose from a wide selection of gowns. The event is also sponsored by radio station 103.7 The Q. Last year’s event lasted four hours and brought in more than 1,000 people. Collage Designer Consignment is located at the Vestavia City Center. For more information, visit ShopCollage.com or facebook.com/ PromPaloozaVCC. Collage owner Tracy True Dismukes can be contacted at tracy@shopcollage.com.
Vestavia legislator to introduce bill mandating restoration of UAB football By KATIE TURPEN State Rep. Jack Williams of House District 47, which covers the cities of Vestavia Hills and Hoover, has plans to introduce a bill in Montgomery that would restore UAB football. Williams believes the bill would have a positive impact on Vestavia Hills and Hoover. He said he knows of multiple students from these areas who have gone on to play football at UAB, such as Vestavia Hills High School graduate Dan Burks, who even went on to the NFL. “The UAB roster is littered with our kids from our over-the-mountain communities,” Williams said. “This has a direct impact on them.” Furthermore, Williams said UAB’s growing enrollment plays a large role in the property value of surrounding real estate. He believes the removal of the football program would hinder economic development in the midtown area. “Reestablishing the program would be a very positive thing,” Williams said. “We have the opportunity to do some healthy things for our community.” Williams said legislative intervention in football has happened before, citing a resolution passed in 1948 asking the University of Alabama and Auburn University to resume playing each other in football after a feud ended the series.
State Rep. Jack Williams
“Heritage in our state is richer because they play each other,” he said. Williams also plans to introduce two bills concerning the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. One bill would mandate annual training in Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) standards and compliance for any public university or college board member and would create a mechanism removing anyone from the board who does not follow the appropriate guidelines. The second bill would add members to the board. “The board is very Tuscaloosa-centric right now,” Williams said. “We need to put enough voices on the board so that when issues are raised, there is fair representation.”
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • A15
Vestaiva residents attend Gala for cancer research Dr. Larry Lemak was the honoree of the Fourth Annual James Bond Gala held at The Club on Feb 7. The event was hosted by ROAR (Regional Oncology Active Research), a club helping to eradicate cancer through UAB research. Dr. Lemak shared how doctors at UAB cured his throat cancer and how the progress of oncology research helped in his cure. He also praised the patients who had previously been treated for his type of cancer that gave him their support. Coach Pat Sullivan was a member of the distinguished host committee.
Others in attendance included Swaid Swaid, Charlie Tickle, Chris Gray, Keith Granger, Nick Sellers, Norman Tynes, Bruce Gordon, Mike Ross, Jabo Waggoner, Justin Kaplin, John Lemak, Charlie Waldrep, Brian Skelton, Gary Ivey, Jim Thompson, Scott Appell, Tracy Causey, Bruce Gordon, Justin Kaplan, Randy Lott, Amanda Martin and Nick Sellers. Sen. Jabo Waggoner, Marilyn Waggoner and Dr. Larry Lemak. Photo courtesy of Ann Bishop.
Vestavia resident named PAA executive director
Vestavia business owner featured on The Steve Harvey Show
The Parkinson Association of Alabama (PAA) recently named Vestavia Hills resident Mary T. Miller as its executive director. Miller is a 1999 graduate of Samford University and has a degree in biology. She worked for 10 years for Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, where she was the director of alumni. Her passion, skills and experience will help move PAA forward in research, fundraising and awareness. In her free time, Miller enjoys running and playing tennis, and she is a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Birmingham. She has been married to Bud Miller for 13 years, and they have two children. Win is in fourth grade at Vestavia Hills
In January, The Steve Harvey Show featured Amanda LeBlanc, professional lifestyle organizer. She discussed organizational systems that save money, maximize time and lose weight with an organized kitchen. “Organizing your home with systems that work for your is important to alleviate stress and function in your everyday life,” said LeBlanc. “The tips provided on The Steve Harvey will help you to jumpstart the New Year with a new you.” LeBlanc is a professional organizer and designer with more than 12 years of experience organizing and 10 years owning her own organizing firm. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. In 2012, LeBlanc’s business made its television debut on the Style Network in a reality show named after her business, The Amandas. LeBlanc is a member of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and is active in the community donating to Habitat for Humanity and local schools and organizations.
Mary T. Miller
Elementary Central, and Ella Kate is in preschool at Covenant Presbyterian Day School.
Amanda Leblanc. Photo courtesy of The Style Network.
A16 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
A leap of
faith
VHHS senior reflects on experience with Distinguished Young Women By REBECCA WALDEN It was just another rehearsal at Birmingham Ballet when a chance conversation sparked a desire in Hannah Walter she never knew she had --the desire to become the title holder in the Distinguished Young Women program. “One of the girls I really looked up to at the studio, Gina Maiola, began talking about the program,” said Walter, who watched her friend eventually advance in the program to win Jefferson County in 2012. In that moment, the seed was planted. It was then that Walter’s mother, Oeith Walter, told her daughter of her own experience with the program, formerly known as America’s Junior Miss, as a teen growing up in Clarke County, Alabama. “She opened up to me about her experience and what a great time she’d had in the program,” said Walter, adding that her mother won for overall academics and was named second runner-up overall. For Walter, enrolling in the program was
jumping headfirst into an experience unlike anything she’d ever done before. While Walter was comfortable commanding the stage as a dancer (this past December she performed as the Snow Queen and the Spanish soloist in Birmingham Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”), it did not come easily to be the center of attention when the focus was on verbal self-expression. “Getting the chance to speak on stage with confidence was great,” said Walter, who admits she stumbled during the self-expression portion, leading her to believe she’d lost her shot at the title. “Throughout the interview process I became more comfortable with myself and who I am. In the end, that translated not only on stage but also in the friendships I made with girls I never would have met otherwise.” After being named the 2015 Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County, Walter went on to compete for the state title in Montgomery this past January. While the outcome was not what she’d hoped, Walter still speaks highly of the experience. “Hey, I can now do push-ups!” she said,
VHHS senior and 2015 Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County Hannah Walter, a Cahaba Heights native, won the title with zero experience in such scholarship programs. Photo courtesy of Leigh Blackwell/Distinguished Young Women Program.
divulging one of her other reasons for entering the program. “I really wanted to win the fitness preliminary. Going in, my family loved picking on me, saying I couldn’t do so much as one push-up.” To those young women who scoff at the notion of such a program, who feel that they are too shy or not talented enough or not pretty enough to compete, Walter offered this:
“This program is definitely for them,” she said. “It is all about who the girl truly is and how she showcases that to the community. There are no tiaras.” In July, Walter will pass the torch to the new Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County before she heads down to Auburn, where she intends to major in microbiology and start a career in genetic counseling.
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • A17
Taking action Local residents give makeover to Ascension Day School playground By REBECCA WALDEN Last summer, as Ascension Episcopal Kindergarten (AEK) moms Rachel Lowther and Dana Sheheane were walking together, their conversation turned to the school’s playground. Their eyes lingered on the once pristine playground equipment. “Despite the playground’s wonderful space, the equipment was 25 years old and simply out of date,” she said. “Rachel and I felt like the playground needed to reflect the theme of the school, which is creative play. We are here, and we know it’s the greatest place ever, but we also wanted to be sure that people visiting the school from out of town would have a favorable impression, and the existing playground needed to embody that as well.” Not long after, Lowther and Sheheane were in the office of the newly minted AEK director, Laura Maddox, pitching their idea. By August 2014, the three had formed a playground committee, obtained support from the Episcopal Church of the Ascension’s Rev. Stephen Hood, and calculated final project costs, which totaled $20,000. To meet their deadline of having the playground ready by January, all funds had to be raised before Christmas 2014. Fellow AEK mom Ivy Holmes drafted a campaign letter, issued in
Thanks to the vision of two Vestavia mothers and the financial and volunteer support of more than a hundred local residents and business owners, Ascension Day School now has a completely overhauled playground. Photo by Laura Maddox.
October to everyone in the community with past or present ties to the school. By the beginning of December, the committee had obtained not only its $20,000 requirement, but also several unexpected displays of community support. “We had 114 individuals and local
businesses contribute,” said Maddox, adding that Rocky Ridge Hardware donated money as well as supplying paint and cleaning materials for the project. “[This is] thanks to the generosity of AEK parents, grandparents, alumni, church members and area neighbors.”
Several employees of Mugshots Grill & Bar were among those who ended up using that paint, refurbishing the playground items that remained. “They told us that this project is helping them as much as it helping us,” said Lowther. “For them, it is an opportunity for team building and to
give back through a community service project.” Jimmy John’s, which had not yet opened, also stepped up to support the playground project. “It was so sweet to see people so generous,” said Sheheane. “Let’s be honest. No one likes to ask for money. No one. And you know these businesses are hit up all the time. Yet no one balked at all. There was genuine excitement about this project.” As the installation took shape, AEK alumni also showed up to lend a helping hand. Kacey Venglik, whose children have long since aged out of the program, was among them; she worked tirelessly to paint the playhouse that is a popular feature of the refurbished playground. Maddox added that by late spring, the site will also have a covered sandbox, thanks to the chosen project of Eagle Scout candidate Reid Hodges. Hodges, who attends Briarwood, selected the site through his affiliation with troop leader and AEK church member Loring Jones. “I came up here on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and saw five families up here enjoying the grounds,” said Sheheane, who lives nearby off of Canyon Road. “It is truly a neighborhood gathering place, and it was a neighbor-helping-neighbor effort to bring it up to date.”
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A18 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
E C T MO EMBER V O M M U N I 8T Y
ch r a M
C OMMUNITY
Vestavia Hills is full of people making a difference in our community, and we need your help to give them the recognition they deserve.
OF THE YEAR
Go online to cast your vote for Vestavia Voice’s Cause of the Year.
C AUSE
OF THE by YEAR
Nominees
vestaviavoice.com/award Autism Society of Alabama
Birmingham AMBUCS
Located in Vestavia Hills, the Autism Society of Alabama collaborates with various state and local agencies to increase autism awareness in the community, schools, and in the medical and professional arenas. The organization promotes education and understanding to encourage the early diagnosis of autism. Autism-alabama.org
Birmingham AMBUCS is a nonprofit organization that donates custom-made bicycles and tricycles to children with disabilities. Each bike is specifically made to fit each child’s disability. The organization, which moved to Vestavia Hills in 2010, also conducts regular bike fairs around the area to train therapists to help children use the bikes. Birminghamambucs.org
Cooking with Cancer
Help the Hills
Cooking with Cancer, located on Laurel Road, was founded by Vestavia Hills oncologist Dr. Luis Pineda. Pineda researches and develops beneficial recipes for cancer patients as well as their families, friends and caregivers. He has compiled well researched recipes into a Cooking with Cancer cookbook with a goal to give a free copy to every cancer patient who wants one. Cookingwithcancer.org
Help the Hills was born out of two classes of Leadership Vestavia Hills to fight against drug and alcohol abuse among children. The organization’s goal is to foster open dialogue with parents, educators and community leaders by providing information, tips and strategies to help parents have those necessary conversations. Leadershipvestaviahills.com
KultureCity
Magic City Nutcracker
Julian Maha and his wife, Dr. Michele Kong, founded KultureCity in 2013 after their son Abram was diagnosed with autism at age two. Run from the couple’s Vestavia Hills home, the organization provides networking and resources for those affected by autism and has now reached hundreds of families across the world. KultureCity.org
The Magic City Nutcracker is a nonprofit, organization that uses local community talent to provide a holiday tradition for the city. The production is a result of the efforts of Vestavia Dance members Stephanie Thompson, Kelly Avery and Angel White. This past December, the organization hosted a Sugar Plum Fairy tea. Magiccitynutcracker.org
Paul Meyers Foundation
Reel Life International
After surviving the loss of their brother Paul the young age of 33, the Meyers family decided to honor his with the creation of the Paul Meyers Foundation. The foundation funds agencies and individuals that support medical treatment for underprivileged people, safety and rehabilitation to victims of human trafficking, and importance of early and continual screening for heart disease. Golf4paul.com
Founded by local resident Michael O’Neal, Reel Life International endeavors to serve orphans and impoverished families by mobilizing people and resources for sustainable and empowering assistance initiatives. The work of Reel Life has grown to reach several countries, including Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Haiti and Guatemala. Reel-life.org
Trips for Kids Birmingham
Urban Purpose
Founded by Tanglewood resident Doug Brown, Trips for Kids Birmingham loans bicycles and safety gear to children in the Birmingham area and teaches them to ride trails at Oak Mountain State Park. Through the organization, students ages 10-15 from inner-city Birmingham are invited to join volunteers on the trails as a reward for improving their attendance records. Tripsforkidsbirmingham.org
Formed in 2010 by Vestavia Hills resident Jim McFarland, Urban Purpose provides food, clothing, shelter, employment opportunities, drug and alcohol recovery to those in need in Birmingham. In addition, every Sunday afternoon the group travels downtown to serve a meal to anywhere from 40 to 120 people. Urbanpurpose.org
Winners will be announced in our April issue with a feature story. The winning cause will also receive a cash prize donation. Nominee descriptions were submitted by community members.
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • A19
A20• March 2015
Vestavia Voice
E T O V by
ch r a M
8
C OMMUNITY
M EMBER OF THE YEAR
Vestavia Hills is full of people making a difference in our community, and we need O MMUNITY your help to give them the recognition they deserve.
C
C AUSE
Go online to cast your vote for Vestavia Voice’s Community OF THE YEAR Member of the Year.
vestaviavoice.com/award Steve Ammons
Julie Ellis
Vestavia Hills City Councilman
Director of Marketing and Business Development at Bridgeworth, LLC
Nominees
Steve is the president of Bullet Inc. an employment screening service located in Vestavia Hills, and a member of the Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Board as well as the City Council. He is a coach for a Vestavia boys’ lacrosse team and is a parent to two Vestavia students.
Julie and her husband, John, have two boys. She is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Vestavia Hills. and is on the Board of Directors. Her class project evolved into Help the Hills – a program aimed at raising awareness of drug and alcohol use by young people.
Kelly Garner
Jim Metrock
Community Volunteer
President of Obligation, Inc.
During the 2014 snowstorms, Local resident Kelly Garner helped stranded motorists stuck in the icy conditions on U.S. 31 and miraculously survived a fall down a 40-foot-deep ravine. He has since trained for several races around Birmingham and is writing a book about his experience tentatively titled The Night that Changed My Life.
Jim is president of Obligation, Inc. a child advocacy organization that has worked nationally to remove harmful advertising from public schools. He also successfully campaigned for a change in Alabama’s ethics law that ended the practice of public officials receiving free Iron Bowl ticket.
Joe Perez
Ashley Thompson
Owner of Wild Birds Unlimited
Executive Director of Vestavia Hills City School Foundation
Joe Perez is a board member of Rotary Club of Vestavia Hills, trustee in the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and a graduate and former board member of Leadership Vestavia Hills. He is also an active member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church. Joe and his wife Bonnie have lived in Vestavia Hills since 1982.
Ashley serves as the executive director of the Vestavia Hills City School Foundation. The nonprofit organization maintains an education endowment that provides grants and enables schools to have access to funds that go beyond the local, state and federal resources.
Tracy Thornton
Kristin Tunnell
Group Fitness Coordinator at the Shades Valley YMCA
President Elect of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation
Tracy is a group fitness coordinator at the Shades Valley YMCA. Her hobbies and passions include fitness, spreading awareness of Down Syndrome, supporting The Bell Center and Mercedes Marathon, and raising money for brain tumor research.
Kristin is president elect of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation, education vice chair for the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Vestavia Hills Beautification Board. She graduated from Vestavia Hills High School and Furman University.
Brandi Vickers
Jack Williams
Community Volunteer
District 47 State Representative
Brandi has three children who attend Vestavia City Schools. She leads several committees and helps to raise money for local schools. She volunteers fro PALS of the Library in the Forest, where she is heading the auction committee for Casino Night.
Jack served as president of the National Republican County Officials and was a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention. He helped to found the Southern Republican Exchange, a conservative think tank dealing with state and local issues.
Winners will be announced in our April issue with a feature story. Nominee descriptions were submitted by community members.
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March 2015 • A21
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A22 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
“You know you live in Vestavia Hills when you remember...”
1
“Growing up playing pinball at Mack’s Quick Sack.”
2
“The old Sol Azteca at bottom of the hotel.” Ashley Bragan Brazelton
Molly Spink Packard
3
4
Katherine McLean Taylor
Shannon Goff Flanagan
“Davenport’s Pizza on U.S. 31 across from Greenbriar.”
5
“The Amico gas station and Taco Bell off Morgan Drive.”
6
“Walking to Baskin Robbins (where Walgreens is now).”
“There use to be a Burger King about where the car wash ( by Honey Baked Ham) on U.S. 31.”
Kelley Smith Evers
Rachel Flowers Harwell
7
“That the Vestavia Hills Library used to be in the Vestavia Hills Civic Center, across the street from where it is now.” Rachel Flowers Harwell
8
9
“There were actually two different drive-ins on U.S. 31. One where the Red Lobster is and the other one adjacent to the bowling alley.”
“Friday concessions at PMS included sheet ice. Big B Drug’s was the local drugstore. Showbiz was the best place for parties.”
Vicki Oliver
Valerie Guthrie
10
“That the City Center use to have Parisians... Yieldings...Sears... Sneaky Pete’s. Then there was the strip mall where Western Supermarket was.” Alice Neville Krug
11
“You were one of the first classes at VHHS and you have Vol. 1 of the Revielle but were only in the sixth grade. Grades 6-12 were in the same building.” Pam Cook
12
“Driving by Moe’s Original Bar B Que and you remember when it was a Taco Bell and there was a gas station in front where all the kids hung out in high school and you could buy Jolt Cola.” Taylor Hill
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • A23
CONSTRUCTION
SYMBOL
CONTINUED from page A1 “It’s always been our economic development strategy that we need to get in the game,” he said. “When you start seeing heavy equipment moving earth, you can show that.” Downes added that last year, the city had more than $700,000 in building permits paid for new construction. This year, with the $125 million worth of construction projects, the city anticipates close to a million dollars in additional building permits. The new City Hall is expected to be complete by September 2015. Sprouts Farmers Market is set to be operating by the end of the first quarter of 2016, with companion retail in the development plans. “When you look at where everything is going to happen, you realize it’s all happening there at the center, the commercial corridor of Vestavia Hills,” Downes said. “And with that comes the excitement that others have about development potential along that corridor as well.” Developers have taken notice of Patchwork Farms, located off U.S. 280 between Cahaba River and Caldwell Mill Roads on the edge of the city. This past November, the City Council approved the Patchwork Farms Master Plan, which included pedestrian-friendly development including a nature park and residential units. Downes said that contracts have been signed with Daniel Corporation and site contractors to begin mass grading in preparation for development of the parcel around Life Time Fitness. “Things are happening in all parts of the community,” Councilman John Henley said. “Our goal is to increase revenue coming in to the city.” Although exciting, these projects
CONTINUED from page A1
BL Harbert International, a privately owned construction company with roots in Vestavia Hills, is leading the City Hall project. Photo by Katie Turpen.
haven’t happened without a few setbacks. Downes said with the construction of Sprouts, some buffer areas have been disturbed. Landscape plans are in place to put those buffers back. Furthermore, the businesses along the edge of the entryway to the new City Hall have had to go through some pain of a realigned entryway. “Whenever you have to grow, you have to shake the status quo a little bit,” Downes said. “As a city you have to be very sensitive to that, and as issues arise we have tried to address them.” Downes said the growth will generate revenues that can allow the city to start considering quality-of-life opportunities. The city is gearing up in efforts to improve Wald Park as well as sprucing up ballfields and
creating more trails. They are also in the process of exploring an internally run sidewalk expansion program to make the community more pedestrian friendly. Other ongoing improvements include the southern gateway improvement project and expansion of the library lot, which is expected to be finished by the end of March. Zaxby’s in Cahaba Heights is expected to be complete by this summer, and the Winn-Dixie is already complete. “A lot of these things could not have been done by themselves,” said Downes, citing development constraints with the America’s First Federal Credit Union and Sprouts sites. “This kind of construction is something we haven’t seen in years. This is a proud moment.”
Shades Mountain. Ward’s home sat on 20 acres and was surrounded by gardens. The Sibyl Temple was built as a gazebo in one of the gardens as a replica of the Temple of the Goddess Vesta in Tivoli, Italy. When Ward passed away, his home fell into ruins. In 1958, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church bought the land to build its church, but the Sibyl Temple remained standing. In 1972, the Vestavia Hills Garden Club’s president, the late Barbara Spradling, met with the deacons of the church and offered to buy the Sibyl Temple. The garden club wanted to preserve this landmark, and the task of moving the temple began. Between 1973 and 1974 the temple was dismantled from one location and moved piece by piece to its current home on Montgomery Highway and Shades Crest Road. The Sibyl Temple has been the special project of the Garden Club since that time. In 1985, it was named a Historical Landmark by the Alabama Historical Commission. The Sibyl Temple Foundation was formed in 1992 with members of the garden club serving to help restore, maintain and beautify the temple. “The Sibyl Temple is the landmark of Vestavia Hills and a legacy for our community,” said Vestavia Hills Garden Club President Dawn Bendig. In 2003, the foundation, in
partnership with the Vestavia Hills Garden Club, began a fundraising campaign to restore the temple. Using these funds, the temple was restored in 2004. The foundation and garden club continued their fundraising efforts in order to re-landscape, expand the property and construct restrooms. “We want the grounds to be gorgeous,” said Sibyl Temple Foundation President Celeste David. “We couldn’t do it without the generosity of the Vestavia Hills community and support of donors.” In September 2013, lighting was installed to illuminate the temple blue as part of the Vestavia Hills Police Department’s Operation Blue Shield traffic fatality awareness initiative. Through the years, it has been the site of wedding proposals, picnics and other community events. The Sibyl Temple Foundation is inviting residents to leave their mark around the landmark by purchasing one of the bricks that surround the temple. The bricks are 4-by-8 inches and are $75 each. “It can be a memorial, honorary, wedding, whatever you want,” said garden club member Sarah White. “All money goes to support the Sibyl Temple.” To purchase a brick, contact White at 823-0052.
SECTION B School House B10 Sports B13 Calendar B17
Ex-Rebel Salem eager for Bama’s season at the Met By DAVID KNOX University of Alabama center fielder Georgie Salem didn’t make an error last season. It will be crucial that the fleet and sure-handed Salem performs to that level this season as the Crimson Tide plays its 2015 home season in the expansive spaces of the Hoover Met outfield. Salem, a Vestavia Hills High graduate, is looking forward to playing in front of home folks as Alabama’s on-campus stadium, Sewell-Thomas Stadium, undergoes a $42.6 million renovation and expansion. Alabama will play 30 games at the Met, including all of its SEC home games. “I think it’s going to be a pretty cool experience,” Salem said. “I grew up as a kid going to watch the Barons, and it always seemed like whoever played in that stadium was just a superstar. Kind of cool to have the opportunity to play there, in my hometown, and where I went as a kid to watch the pros play.” Of course, it won’t quite be like playing on
campus, and no doubt student attendance won’t be what it would be at “The Joe.” “I hope a lot of Vestavia, as well as the rest of the metro Birmingham crowd, comes to support Alabama,” Salem said. “Even if they’re not Alabama fans, if they’re Auburn fans, just to come out and watch some good baseball. We’ve got some good SEC teams rolling in there so there are going to be some fun games to watch.” As beneficial as it is to Birmingham-area Tide fans to not have to make the trip down the interstate to Tuscaloosa, it does create some logistical issues for the baseball team. “Fifty-six road games,” Salem said wryly. “It’s definitely a challenge, but I think we’ve got a pretty good team that is groomed for success and can handle the situation.” The Crimson Tide will bus up on Friday Firdmornings for the three-game sets it plays against Southeastern Conference teams. The team will
See BASEBALL | page B8
Crimson Tide baseball player Georgie Salem, who started all 61 games last season and has in fact started every game in his college career, has been working on his hitting in the offseason. Photo courtesy of UA Athletics.
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B2 • March 2015
Special Advertising Section
Summer Camp Guide
As days turn warmer, it’s time to start thinking about summertime at last, and no summer is complete without a camp experience. Whether your child likes to swim, dance, act, paint, play or learn, opportunities abound in our area and beyond for daytime and overnight camps. Peruse our guide to learn more about which programs best fit your child’s personality, interest, age and availability. No matter which you choose, it’s time to jump in for fun and adventure this summer!
Academics, sports and music enrichment at Altamont
The Altamont School offers a variety of enriching and entertaining experiences for students each summer. Summer programs are a great way for prospective families to learn about Altamont and current students to get ahead for the upcoming year. High school students can take a variety of credit courses. Standard classes such as such as Geometry and Health are offered in addition to more unique subjects such as Speech, Lab Techniques, and Ancient and Medieval Cultures. Noncredit review classes in Algebra are also available. Day camps for third through eighth-graders offer grade-level appropriate enrichment. Among other offerings, fifth through eighthgrade students can register for a three-week afternoon course that teaches outdoor photography as well as a week of dramatic study focused on Shakespeare. For kids with athletic interests, a basketball camp is offered June 8-11 or June 22-25, and a soccer camp will run May 26-29. And for kids
Altamont School High School Credit Courses Day Camps for Grades 3-8 Sports Camps 4801 Altamont Road South June 1-July 10 altamontschool.org/summer
who prefer music, Band Camps offer fifth to eighth-graders an opportunity to learn to play an instrument, and sixth through eighth-graders who have completed a year of band wanting to improve their playing to the next level. Whether a child participates in an academic or athletic experience, they will experience acceleration and enrichment at Altamont.
Vestavia Voice
vestaviavoice.com
Summer Camp Guide
March 2015 • B3
Special Advertising Section
Embark on a summer adventure at Camp Cosby
Children always come back with a story to tell after their summer adventure at YMCA’s Camp Cosby. From zip lines to time on the lake, the camp offers something for everyone. YMCA Camp Cosby offers a oneweek, co-ed safe experience for kids ages 6-15 on the shores of Logan Martin Lake. The camp gives kids a chance to play hard, make new friends, and have the adventure of a lifetime in a safe, fun,
and structured environment. “My summer at Camp Cosby was so much fun,” said one camper about the summer experience. “I jumped off the blob and got soaking wet, I got to ride the zip line and splash in the lake, and I made a ton of new friends.” The camp’s 93rd season will open on Sunday, June 7, and camp gates will open at 3 p.m. Children can choose from eight week-long camp experiences. Each
camp week concludes at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The camp’s cost is $595 a week with a $50 discount for YMCA members. For 5 and 6 year olds, a three-day program called Buckaroos is offered. Its cost is $275 for YMCA members and $325 for nonmembers. For registration information, email cosby@ymcabham.org or visit campcosby.org.
YMCA Camp Cosby Camp Dates:
2290 Paul Bear Bryant Road
June 7-13, 14-20, 21-27,
Alpine, Alabama
June 28-July 4, July 5-11, 12-
256-268-2007
18, 19-25, July 26- Aug 1
campcosby.org
Summer Camp Guide
B4 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
Special Advertising Section
Enjoy fun all summer long with the Y
At the YMCA of Greater Birmingham, children are invited to participate in a variety of summer day camps at each of nine YMCA locations. The YMCA believes that education is important for every child, and has combined learning and fun together for its summer programs. Examples of specialty camps offered include Lego Camp, Drawing Camp, Photography Camp, Future Inventors Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camp, Super Hero Science Camp, Sports
Camp and Clowning Around Camp. The YMCA Hargis Retreat, located on 200 scenic wooded acres complete with hiking trails, a pool, fields for games and lake, is an ideal backdrop for traditional camp activities. Day Camp activities at Hargis Retreat include swimming, archery, arts and crafts, chapel, canoeing, hiking, field games, fishing, rock climbing, inflatable toys, mountain biking, outdoor survival and fishing. Weekly sessions are from May 26-Aug. 1. There will
also be open houses on site on March 29, April 11 and April 26 from 2-5 p.m. each day. Register online for camps at ymcabham.org/summerdaycamp2015 or ymcabham.org/hargisretreat. Note that parents will still be required to complete all required paperwork when registering online. There is a $25 per child registration fee due at time of registration.
YMCA of Greater Birmingham Summer Day Camps and Hargis Retreat Camps will be offered at Hargis Retreat and the following YMCA locations: Alabaster, Greystone, Hargis Retreat, Hoover, Northeast, Pelham, Shades Valley,
Trussville,Western Area, Youth Center Visit ymcabham.org/ summerdaycamp2015 for specific dates for each location.
Summer Camp Guide
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • B5
Special Advertising Section
Explore the museum at art camp
Play a part
For kids who feel like all the world’s a stage, Red Mountain Theatre Company’s Broadway Bootcamp provides the opportunity to hone singing, dancing and acting skills. With five different levels, this camp is not just for the experienced actors. The Basic and Blast Bootcamps are non-auditioned. Basic Bootcamp is geared toward children age 4-6 for the development of their creative skills. Each week, students will use music, crafts, dance and drama to explore a different theme such as oceans, superheroes or fairytales. The other non-audition type camp is Blast Bootcamp, which teaches kids and teens age 7-18 all the basic skills of musical theatre through music, dance and acting. Students can audition for the Recruit, Intermediate and Advanced Bootcamps on March 14 and 15. Recruits, age 7-18, will learn specialized skills like improvisational comedy, jazz dance and choral singing. This camp focuses on enhancing the performance skills of all young artists. Intermediate Bootcamp is for students, age 9-15, who are ready to take their theatre training to the next level. Students
Broadway Bootcamp June 1-19 Red Mountain Theatre Company redmountaintheatre.org/broadwaybootcamp.html education@redmountaintheatre.org 324-2424
will gain skills in intermediate dance steps and song interpretation. Advanced Bootcamp is for students, age 13-18, who will focus on learning complex production numbers straight from the Broadway stage. Students train for three weeks to become triple-threat performers, becoming experts in singing, dancing and acting. This elite camp is for those who want to be the best of the best.
Summer Art Camp is returning to the Birmingham Museum of Art. The experience gives campers immediate access to the museum’s collection of original artworks from around the world and is sure to fill them with endless inspiration. Camps are offered for two age groups. Young Artists camps are for rising second through sixth-graders and run 9 a.m.-3 p.m. It costs $250 for museum members or $300 for non-members for the weeklong program. Students who have completed 5K and are entering first-grade can participate in Little Masters camp from 9 a.m.-noon. It costs $150 for museum members or $180 for non-members for the weeklong program. After-care from 3-5:30 p.m. is also available for
Summer Art Camp Birmingham Museum of Art Young Artists June 15-19 or 22-26 July 6-10 or 13-17 Little Masters July 20-24 or 27-31 campers for an additional $50 per child per week. For more information or to register, call 254-2571 or visit artsbma.org/ museum-studio.
Summer Camp Guide
B6 • March 2015
Special Advertising Section
Adventures in the arts and more at Samford
When classes end for the summer, the fun begins at Samford University. The campus hosts a variety of learning experiences for students of all ages in June and July. From music to arts to medicine, there’s a place for everyone. For a musical experience, there are options for any age. All Aboard for Music Camp teaches children ages 3-6 through movement, song, rhythm, instruments and performance. Piano and voice students in grades 1-12 can enhance their solo and ensemble performance, music history and theory knowledge through Adventures in Music Camp. Grades 7-12 can also further their performance abilities while increasing general knowledge of music in a Piano and Chamber Music Institute. For the budding actor or actress, Imagine! offers a one-week (for grades K-5) and two-week (for grades 6-12) opportunity to plan, create and participate in a theatre production. The older students will perform in Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit by Jonathan Rand. Young artists can join artist Carolyn Wass to explore expression through drawing, kiln-fired clay, acrylic and watercolor painting techniques, printmaking and paper marbling in Academy Art Summer Camp for grades 7-12. There are also a variety of enriching options for high school students. A Summer Debate Institute will emphasize 21st century debate skills for grades 9-12, and a Minority Youth Science
Samford University 800 Lakeshore Drive Various dates in June and July samford.edu/programs/summerprograms/
Academy offers college preparation and mentoring for students interested in science. Animate, scheduled for June 29-July 3, offers an intergenerational workshop on worship and the arts for young artists and their mentors. For juniors and seniors looking to explore future careers, a J.D. Calling program June 24-27 features a mock trial, analysis of legal case and advice about law school application; M.D. Calling features pre-medicine advising, expert panels, networking; and Bulldog Pharmacy Camp allows them to participate in hands-on pharmacy science lab demonstrations and tour local health-care facilities. Those interested in literature can also engage in lively discussions about great books through the Great Ideas Summer Institute July 5-10 or 12-17, and for the math-minded, another institute allows students to study mathematical and analytical methods used in modern finance.
Vestavia Voice
vestaviavoice.com
Summer Camp Guide
March 2015 •B7
Special Advertising Section
Summer of soccer, fun and development
At Vestavia Hills Soccer Club, coaches and staff want their players to learn more than soccer. “[We want them to] develop soccer skills including dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting, crossing as well as an increase the player’s game and self-awareness as a person,” Coach Jason Woodall said. Vestavia Hills Soccer Club is a nonprofit organization in Vestavia Hills established to promote soccer for children in age divisions 4-19. The club has offered soccer camps FOR OVER 15 YEARS focusing on personal development, soccer skills, and the individual player! Several camps offered at different skill levels give any player the chance to learn something new about soccer and life! Spring Break Camp is offered March 30-April 2. Players age 4-14 at competitive and recreational levels will have a great time working on skills, playing small-sided games and having FUN over the break. Registration is
$100 before March 1 and $120 after March 1. The Got Skillz Summer Camps are the first open summer camp of the season. Offered in two sessions throughout July, this camp is for players of all skill levels age 4-14. The camp will focus on building soccer skills and maintaining the soccer fun over the summer break. Come learn some great skills and tricks and and have fun this summer at Got Skillz! Registration before June 5 is $135. Late registration is $150. The soccer club’s Pre-Tryout Camps will take place May 12-14 and May 26-28. Players in the U9 to U18 age categories will get the best speed, agility, strength and coordination training with the help of SoccerFit. This camp will help players prepare for their tryouts for the club’s competitive play. Registration for this camp is $60. The Keeper-Striker Camp will be held July 17-19 for competitive players age 9-19. The
soccer club’s executive director Rocky Harmon as well as guest coach Marine Cano will coach the camp! Coach Cano currently coaches at Soka University in California and previously coached at University of California at Irvine for 13 years. He is the 11th all-time winningest women’s coach in Division I history. Registration before July 1 is $155. Late registration is $175. The final camp offered in the summer season will be the University of Soccer Camp July 20-23. Players at levels U9 through U14 from all clubs are welcome to attend. College coaches from around the country along with Vestavia Soccer’s excellent full-time staff will be on hand. Each camper will receive a University of Soccer jersey, participate in the popular World Cup Tournament each afternoon, and hear team talks after lunch with guest speakers and review sessions and more. The focus is on learning both the game of soccer and to learn
Vestavia Hills Soccer Club Spring Break & Summer Camps Spring Break Camp: March 30-April 2 Pre-Tryout Camps: May 12-14 & 26-28 Summer Camps: July-August Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex & Liberty Park Soccer Complex vestaviasoccer.com something about the self! Registration before June 20 is $225. Late registration is $250. Players of all camps will have plenty of water breaks and snacks. Camps will have a low ratio of coaches to players and players will be split into small groups for training, increasing the level of fun. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the official sponsor for Vestavia Hills Soccer Club camps.
Summer Camp Guide
B8 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
Special Advertising Section
Find an adventure in Liberty Park
BASEBALL
CONTINUED from page B1 stay in a hotel for the weekend before busing back down to Tuscaloosa after the Sunday afternoon game. For midweek games, the Tide will bus up and back the roughly 100-mile round trip. The junior, who started all 61 games last season and has in fact started every game in his college career, has been working on his hitting in the offseason. Not that he was a slouch at the plate last season — he tied for the team lead in hits with 73 and batted .282 with a pair of home runs and 22 RBIs. “I hit well, but there’s a lot more in the tank,” Salem said. “I’ve been really trying to dial my swing in where it needs to be, and also working a lot on base running and stealing bases. That’s been my priority.” As for the defensive aspect, playing outfield at the Met brings its challenges. “Taking bases away is a pretty big deal in the outfield,” Salem said. “If the ball gets by you it’s a triple for the most part and could turn into a home run, so taking proper angles to balls that are in the gaps and keeping the ball from getting to the fence is a pretty big deal. “But we’ve got a very fast outfield so I’m not too worried about it. I think we’ll be in good shape.”
At Primrose Summer Adventure Club, imaginations are launched farther than ever thought possible. The camp organizers know what it takes to fuel a child’s natural curiosity about the world. That’s why they provide a fun, hands-on experience including engineering design challenges, outdoor exploration, creative play and much more. The Primrose Day Camp builds active minds, healthy bodies and happy hearts. Campers participate in fun activities that simultaneously reinforce important skills such as reading and math, keeping them engaged and learning. Fun and learning go hand-in-hand. Campers play with ideas, build friendships and exercise their bodies and imaginations. With creative weekly themes and stimulating activities, Primrose campers engage in exciting lessons
Summer Adventure Club Primrose School at Liberty Park May 26-Aug. 7 Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. 1800 Urban Center Parkway Primroselibertypark.com 969-8202 on a variety of topics. From music to math to sports, campers foster a love of learning. Get ready. The countdown to excitement begins today. Call 969-8202 for a tour.
This summer, imaginations take ffl light.
SNEAK PEEK MARCH 30-APRIL 3 SPRING BREAK CAMP Experience the excitement of our Summer Adventure Club where imaginations are free to run wild. Get ready for engineering design challenges, discoveries, outdoor exploration and more. It’s going to be one epic summer. Fun for ages 5 – 10.* Learn more at PrimroseSummer.com. Off Site Field Trips • Snacks & Lunch Included
Weekly Fun Themes • Dates are Customizable
Primrose School at Liberty Park 1800 Urban Center Pkwy | Vestavia Hills, AL 35242 205.969.8202 | PrimroseLibertyPark.com Each Primrose School is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools is a trademark of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2015 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved. *Ages for Summer Adventure Club programs vary by location.
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • B9
Role with it Studio’s performance-rich repertoire keeps ballerinas on point By REBECCA WALDEN Even after her 16th hour of weekly rehearsals, the norm for any junior or senior company dancer with the Birmingham Ballet, you’ll still find Pizitz eighth-grader Olivia Martin with an exhausted smile on her face. “We put so much work into these rehearsals and shows because we love it,” she said. “It’s a huge part of our lives. I wouldn’t be me without dance.” That passion permeated Martin’s two-role performance in the studio’s most recent production, Swan Lake, which wraps March 1 after a threeday run at the BJCC. And it’s already got her focused on training for her next performance — the Birmingham Ballet Spring Showcase. Though this is only Martin’s first year with the studio’s senior company, the substantial stage performance time she’s already received is core to the culture of Birmingham Ballet, established in 1991 and directed by Cindy Free. “The performance opportunities are wonderful here,” said VHHS sophomore Linnea Blakemore, who is in her eighth spring season with
Swan Lake, the most recent performance by the Birmingham Ballet, featured five dancers from Vestavia Hills. Pictured from left to right are Linnea Blakemore, Olivia Martin, Grace Ahnert, Kathleen McCrary and Haley Lockhart. Photo by Rebecca Walden.
the Birmingham Ballet. “And that includes the opportunity to gain soloist experience.” It was Free’s philosophy that initially attracted Blakemore to the studio. “When my mom first met with
Cindy, one of the big questions she had concerned body type, and if the students must weigh in,” said Blakemore. “Cindy said, ‘No. We accept them for who they are. Body type doesn’t matter to me. They are dancers and artists, and that is what we are
trying to foster here.’” That atmosphere has clearly struck a chord, with low turnover in the studio’s full-time student roster, an average season comprising three major performances, numerous ensemble and community outreach
performances, and a growing base of would-be community cast members participating in spring and fall auditions. VHHS freshman and senior company ballerina Kathleen McCrary said the supportive atmosphere has helped her further develop her technique. “Sometimes you have your heart set on one role but that’s not the one you are given,” she said. “But the positivity here is amazing, and the role you receive always ends up being a better role than you thought it would be. You are supported throughout, and that’s a good thing because we see each other more than we see our families!” And like family, Free encourages her dancers inside and outside the studio. Birmingham Ballet has had three of its dancers go on to become Jefferson County’s Distinguished Young Woman. “As I’ve watched our seniors participate in the Distinguished Young Woman program, it’s been awesome to see the teachers work with them on their variations, and pushing each one of them to be better,” said Blakemore. “When we have to miss a rehearsal for the ACT, whenever we have any kind of major life event, they are just really invested in our lives and treat us as if we are their children.” For more information about Birmingham Ballet’s Spring Showcase, May 2 at the BJCC, or to purchase tickets, visit birminghamballet.com.
B10 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
School House Students make baking video
New elective courses at VHHS In January, students had the opportunity to enroll in four new courses in the career & technical education department and 12 new courses in the Arts Department. Courses will be taught in the 2015-2016 school year. The new career & technical education courses will provide students with instruction in software development, Java programming, college accounting, and management principles. The classes are targeted toward students who plan to pursue degrees in business, accounting, computer science, and technology, said Department Chair Deana Goodwine. The new career and technical offerings join with the Arts Department, which recently received approval of a dozen new courses in visual and performing arts. VHHS arts teachers led design and creation of the new classes, some of which carry unique
titles like “The Perfect Portrait” and “Let’s Get Crafty.” The idea is to teach art concepts in a more practical setting. “We think these classes will appeal to a lot of kids,” Arts Department Chair Faith Lenhart said. “They’ll make projects like you see on Pinterest and teach art fundamentals and creative problem solving at the same time.” Lenhart, who works directly with performing arts students, said elective classes like the new ones being offered this fall provide students with incentive to attend school every day. “Attendance in my classes is almost always 100 percent,” she said. “These courses give them something to hold onto and be a part of. It gives them a sense of ownership and pride in what they do.” -Submitted by Vestavia Hills City Schools
LPMS students participate in mock trial As a reward for finishing a chemistry unit, students in LPMS teacher Nathan Baker’s science classes worked together to bake a variety of dishes. Photo courtesy of Linda Rummell.
As a reward for finishing a chemistry unit, students in LPMS teacher Nathan Baker’s science classes worked together to bake a variety of dishes. The students applied measurements, chemical mixtures and experienced thermodynamic transformations through the application of heat to these mixtures. Some of the items that they created were bacon-wrapped cinnamon rolls, bacon-infused waffles with bacon syrup, chocolate cupcakes with
homemade peanut butter icing with a chocolate drizzle and a double-decker carrot cake with homemade cream cheese icing. The students used the kitchen equipment at the school but brought ingredients and other items that were needed to complete the assignment. They were graded on the video that they created while cooking and were judged on the taste of their dish.
Seventh grade students at Liberty Park Middle School in Vestavia Hills recently participated in a mock trial. The students were assigned this activity as an introduction to argumentative writing. Students were given a case and then assigned to the defense, prosecution, or jury. The students spent both class time and out-of-class time preparing their cases with claims, evidence, rebuttals, and opening and closing statements. Each team, either the defense or the prosecution, presented their case to a jury of students who had participated in their own jury preparation to get them ready to take an unbiased look at the evidence. The jury then had to decide who presented the best claim with the strongest
support of evidence. Seventh grade English teachers Lindsay Corley and Leigh Mathews stated that this activity engaged students in argumentative writing outside just the normal essay paper. In addition, the teachers said that the activity served as a great team-building exercise as students had to figure out how to put aside their differences and find common ground for the sake of their cases. Because of this assignment, Corley and Mathews believe that students will be better prepared to begin working on thesis statements and the argumentative writing process that will be introduced in class in the coming weeks. -Submitted by Linda Rummell
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • B11
Enrollment for VHEW kindergartners and new students now open If your child will be entering kindergarten or attending Vestavia Hills Elementary West for the first time this fall, enrollment is now open. Kindergarteners must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2015. You can enroll your child at VHEW’s school office, Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day. If circumstances make it necessary for you to enroll your child on a Friday or beyond these designated hours, please call the school to make arrangements. VHEW is located at 1965 Merryvale Road behind the Board of Education. The school phone number is 402-5151. A parent or legal guardian must bring the following items to the school in order to enroll
a student: }} Blue Alabama immunization form }} Proof of age to include but not limited to birth certificate, religious, hospital, or physician’s documents showing date of birth; a baptismal certificate; an entry in a family Bible; an adoption record, an affidavit from a parent; previously verified school records, etc. }} Current and valid lease, warranty deed, settlement statement, mortgage statement, or current property tax notice }} A utility bill in your name for the current month showing your residence property address. }} One other item that ties you to the residence,
such as proof of residency from the county registrar of voters, a current vehicle registration showing residence address, one other bill mailed to you at your residence address, or a canceled check in your name for the current month showing residence property address }} If legal custody of a child is split between two parents, you must attach a certified copy of the court order identifying each parent’s respective award of physical custody. Kindergartners enrolled by April find a surprise on their mailboxes as VHEW’s PTO builds excitement for incoming students. Photo courtesy of Alice Elmore.
VHHS students attend leadership conference
VHEC hosts spelling bee
Vestavia Hills High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Skills USA officers attended the Joint Leadership Development Conference at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex in November. Students joined almost 8,000 students from across the state to plan for their future and to enhance their leadership skills. Among the guest speakers was Winston Groom, author of “Forrest Gump.” Groom challenged the students to contact him in five years with their success stories. Photo courtesy of Deana Goodwine.
In January, Vestavia Hills Elementary Central students participated in the 2014-15 VHCS Spelling Bee. “Ancillary” was this year’s winning word, spelled correctly by Zeeshan (front row, second from left), who will represent Vestavia Hills in the upcoming county competition. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.
B12 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
March adventures Vestavia City Schools students share their plans for Spring Break
“I’ll go to the pool.” Mary Laslie Pike, Cahaba Heights Elementary School
“I plan to go to Florida and watch spring training baseball.” Aiden, Liberty Park Middle School
“I will go to Texas to see my sister.” Alba, Liberty Park Middle School
“I am probably going to Tennessee with all my cousins.” Ella, Liberty Park Middle School
“I will probably go to New York.” -Andrew, Liberty Park Middle School
“We are going to San Diego.” Matt, Liberty Park Middle School
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • B13
Sports LPMS cheerleaders win state competition The Liberty Park Middle School competitive cheerleading team composed of seventh and eighth graders advanced to the Nationals after clearing a State and Regional Qualifier. Nationals were held at the Wide World of Sports/ ESPN in Orlando, Florida. They advanced from the morning preliminary morning session to the evening finals and ended up placing 15th out of 28 teams. (Back row) Claire Sexton, Izzy Hicks, Julianna Perrigo, Raegan Goodreau, Coach Jenny Williams, Kalah Hester, Arlana Spencer and Julia Holmes. (Front row) Anna Crim, Madeline Dodd, Reagan Gwin, Katie McKenna, Madison Chatwood and Sydney Downes.
LPMS launches bowling team
The 2014 boys bowling team members are Evans Crane, Jeffrey Deneen, Hayden Green, Matthew Hardwick, JT Helms, Campbell Miller, Cameron Monistere and Phillip Zuccala. Photos courtesy of Jack Munger.
The 2014-15 girls bowling team members are Mackenzie Abts, Gabby Blue, Taylor Brown, Suha Mohiuddin, Emma Robertson, Chloe Ruggiero and Zoe Woodrow.
Liberty Park Middle School began a new tradition this year with the addition of the LPMS bowling team. The Alabama High School Athletic Association began recognizing bowling as a sport for the 2014-2015 school year, and LPMS was one of the first schools in the state to accept the challenge. The team had a successful season and participated in ten matches, Thompson’s Warrior Classic tournament and Vestavia’s Rebel Roll tournament.
B14 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
Just keep swimming Vestavia residents prepare for junior national meet By JESSA PEASE A swim season of hard work and dedication has paid off for two Vestavia residents as they prepare for the junior national meet in March. Birmingham Swim League competitors Jason Hsu and Anna Moers will take their events to one of the top 25 meets in the country for swimmers 18 years and under. Athletes from all over the country will participate in the meet, but BSL coach Mike Davidson says his swimmers have a great shot at finals. “It’s fun because where we are now, we’ve got a lot progress that can be made,” Davidson said. “For me it’s fun because I know we can get there. We can become a lot better and place a lot higher. To me it’s exciting because there’s really only one way to go, and that’s up.” Leading the way is BSL’s breakout swimmer, Moers, who will be swimming the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke. Davidson also hopes to get the 17-year-old Vestavia Hills High School student a qualifying time for her 200 backstroke as well. “Anna Moers has been just a breakout surprise,” Davidson said. “She has a senior national cut, but she got it too late. She’s just had one heck of a year.” She swims an impressive 23.82 50
Anna Moers works on her kick at a recent practice before the state meet. Photo by Jessa Pease.
freestyle versus the 24.39 national cut, and her 100 back sits at 56.31 against the 57.99 qualifying time. Davidson describes her as a strong swimmer who’s comfortable with her events. “This season I have dropped about four seconds in the 100 back, which
is a pretty substantial amount,” Moers said. “It’s become one of my best events, and last season it was nowhere near one of my best events.” That’s probably why she’s most excited to compete in the 100 backstroke at the competition.
“I feel very confident,” she said. “We’ve worked really hard this season and I just feel like all the hard work is going to pay off.” Right there with her is fellow VHHS student Hsu. The 18-year-old swam at the Grand Prix Arena USA
Swimming event in Minnesota previous to the national meet, which will be in Orlando March 17-21. Davidson said Hsu has a great shot of making the finals if they taper and rest him properly. “He’s made this junior nationals meet in Orlando and he’s going off to college next year, so he’s working his tail off,” Davidson said. Hsu will be swimming the 200 and the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke. His 100 butterfly time sits at 51.99, which is only one-tenth of a second above the 51.89 qualifying time. He swims a 1:53.48 200 fly against the qualifying time of 1:54.89, and his 100 backstroke time of 53:48 is also tenths of a second from the 53.09 qualifying time. He will be swimming the 100 back and 100 fly as bonus events. He said he feels comfortable and confident in his list of events. He’ll be swimming the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle, along with the 100 butterfly. His 100 free time is at 46.80 against the 47.09 qualifying time, and his 200 sits at 1:39.29 versus the national qualifying time of 1:43.09. Just as impressive are his times for the 500 free and the 100 fly. He swims a 4:28.66 500 free whereas the qualifying time is 4:39.59, and his 100 fly time is 50.51 versus the 51.89 qualifying time.
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vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • B15
Frank Hernandez named Volunteer of the Year
The Alabama Soccer Association recently named Vestavia Hills Soccer Club’s Frank Hernandez as their 2014 Volunteer of the Year. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Soccer Club.
The Alabama Soccer Association recently named Vestavia Hills Soccer Club’s Frank Hernandez as their 2014 Volunteer of the Year. From Soccerball (VHSC’s annual fundraiser for financial assistance) to Liberty Cup Site Coordinator to Socctoberfest Volunteer, Hernandez is always first to help, first on site and always with a smile. We can only imagine what he brings to the table at his day job. We appreciate and know how lucky we are to know Hernandez, his family, and the great example he sets for all of us at Vestavia Hills Soccer Club.
Hernandez is truly a leader by example. Positive, outgoing, giving, caring, and the smartest hard worker we know. He is also a team manager for both his son and daughter’s teams at Vestavia Hills Soccer Club. If you are a coach and lucky enough to have Frank, be ready to be pampered with cool towels in August, fruit by the foot and great organization. The Alabama Soccer Association’s annual general meeting was held in January at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham |-Wynfrey Hotel. -Submitted by Vestavia Hill Soccer Club
Vestavia Lacrosse hosts family day
The Vestavia Lacrosse Organization hosted a Vestavia lacrosse family day in January. The day included a round robin tournament played by the Vestavia, Briarwood, John Carroll and Lower Alabama Lacrosse High School teams, and a youth “Shoot for the Loot” contest with the winner receiving a $250 gift card from Dick’s Sporting Goods. Pictured above is Vestavia’s Pete Turner facing off against the Lower Alabama Lacrosse’s Bayhawks. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Nance.
VHHS Volleyball finishes successful season
The VHHS volleyball team.
The VHHS Volleyball team had a record of 4-2 this past season and placed second in the area and top 16 in the state for Division 7A. Tryouts will be held May 4-7 from 3-6 p.m. The girls will need a physical, proof of insurance, and a concussion form in order to try out. Fundraisers include
Vestavia volleyball t-shirt and sweatshirt sales. T-shirts are $30.The team also holds a VHHS Volleyball Kid’s Camp in July. For more information about the program, please contact at singletaryjm@vestavia.k12. al.us.
B16• March 2015
Vestavia Voice
Vestavia Hills Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
622474
35243
3513 Birchwood Lane
New
$565,000
622444
35243
2540 Dolly Ridge Road
New
$469,900
622277
35216
2624 Southbury Circle, 2624
New
$104,900
622130
35216
3025 Panaridge Circle
New
$219,400
622114
35216
305 Vesclub Drive
New
$429,000
621984
35216
2933 Panorama Trail
New
$325,000
622081
35243
1808 Surrey Oaks Lane
New
$599,900
621962
35216
1729 Mountain Woods Circle
New
$299,900
621929
35216
2236 Sterling Ridge Circle
New
$289,000
621895
35216
613 Eastwood Place
New
$248,500
621854
35216
2036 Hulsey Place
New
$419,900
621818
35243
2625 Southminster Road
New
$399,900
Real estate listings provided by birminghamrealtors.com on Feb. 17. Agents and agency vary by property.
From oil changes, alignments, and Alabama inspections to major repairs on your engine and drive train, our technicians will take care of your car, truck or SUV like it was their own.
$25.00 OFF
ANY SERVICE OR REPAIR *Must spend over $50. Choose any service available in our dealership. This exclusive offer not valid for insurance work, warranty, over the counter sales, other offers or service specials. Must be redeemed at one visit. Has no cash surrender value. Expires 4/15/15.
HOME OF THE 30 MINUTE OIL CHANGE PLEDGE SERVICE HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 7AM-6PM SATURDAY 8AM-5PM (855) 878-2649
3513 Birchwood Lane
1808 Surrey Oaks Lane
vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • B17
Calendar Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest 1221 Montgomery Highway 978-0158
Kids
your favorite stuffed animal and visit Doc McStuffins.
Mondays: Tween Scene. 3:30 p.m. Crafts, activities and volunteer opportunities.
March 17: Family Night with Magician Kevin Sanderson. 6 p.m. Magician Kevin Sanderson will astound with his special brand of magic. All ages.
Mondays: Maker Mondays. 6:30 p.m. Pick a station and create something amazing each week. Tuesdays: Together with Twos. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Appropriate for toddlers with short stories, songs and lots of movement. Tuesdays: PJ Story Time. 6:30 p.m. Come in your PJs and enjoy story time. Wednesdays: Story Friends. 10:30 a.m. Stories and songs for preschool children ages 5 and younger. Wednesdays: Skit-tory time. 3:30 p.m. Join Ms. Carol for skits, puppet shows and more. Designed for school-age children. Thursdays: L.I.F.T. 9:30 a.m. Social play for preschoolers and their caregivers. Thursdays: Book Babies. 9:30 a.m. birth-12 months, 10:30 a.m. 13-18 months. Story time for children and caregivers. Registration required. March 13: Preschool Pals presents Doc McStuffins and Friends. 10:30 a.m. Bring
March 28: Lego Wars. 11 a.m. Come build something based on this month’s theme and win a prize. All ages.
Teens March 4: Filmmaking in the Forest. 4:305:30 p.m. Create short films for library events, for national competitions and for fun. March 6: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Enjoy the Wii, Xbox 360 and board games. March 10: Otaku Time! 4-6 p.m. Read, discuss and exchange manga. March 11: Writing Group. 4-5:30 p.m. Teens can build writing skills and provide feedback to one another. March 13: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Enjoy the Wii, Xbox 360 and board games. March 17: Insurgent Release Party. 4-6
p.m. Celebrate the sequel to Divergent by discovering what faction you are in, eating themed snacks and enjoying a variety of activities. March 18: Studio 1221. 4-5:30 p.m. Learn how to make belts and top hats with St. Patrick’s Day flair using duct tape. March 20: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Enjoy the Wii, Xbox 360 and board games. March 21: Minecraft in the Forest. 1-3 p.m. Minecraft in the Forest returns with a St. Patrick’s Day twist. March 24: Anime Night. 4-6 p.m. Watch anime with fellow otaku. March 25: Writing Group. 4-5:30 p.m. Teens can build writing skills and provide feedback to one another. March 27: Super Smash Bros. Tournament. 4-5:30 p.m. Fight to win a Gamestop gift card.
Adults March 3: Lit Lunch Bunch Book Group. Noon-1:30 p.m. Will discuss Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast.
March 4: OLLI Presents: Legal Documents 101. 1:30-3 p.m. Attorney Jonathan Green covers everything you need to know about wills, power of attorney and other legal documents. March 6: NeedleWorks. 1-2 p.m. Bring supplies and knit, cross-stitch or crochet. March 10: Ms. Olivia’s Evening Reads. 6 p.m. Will discuss The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. March 12: Cahaba Heights Book Group. 6:30-7:30 p.m. BAM Sports Grill. Will discuss Dollbaby by Laura Lane McNeal. March 13: Adult Trivia Night: Game of Thrones. 7-9 p.m. How well do you know the world of Westeros? 21 and up. March 21: Coen Brothers Movie Series: Inside Llewyn Davis. 3-5 p.m. Watch Coen movies and enjoy popcorn. 17 and up. March 26: Friends of the Library: ABCs of Tea. 10-11:30 a.m. Learn categories, practices, rituals and history of tea from TeaTime magazine editor Lorna Reeves. March 26: Greater Birmingham OLLI Social Events: Spring Beach Fling. 4-6 p.m. Celebrate Spring Break old-school style. Bring photos and mementos from spring breaks past.
B18 • March 2015
Vestavia Voice
Calendar Vestavia Hills Events March 6: Artists Incorporated First Friday Reception. 5:30 p.m. Artists Incorporated. Free. Visit artistsincorporated.com.
March 13-14: Vestavia Spring Softball Tournament. Vestavia Hills High School Softball Complex. Visit vestavia.k12.al.us.
March 7: PromPalooza 2015. 9 a.m.-noon. Collage Designer Consignment. All proceeds will benefit My Sister’s Closet of the YWCA. Visit facebook.com/ PromPaloozaVCC.
March 17: Vestavia Varsity Baseball vs. Briarwood Christian School. 6:30 p.m. Sammy Dunn Baseball Complex, Vestavia Hills High School.
March 9: Vestavia Varsity Softball vs. Hewitt-Trussville. 6 p.m. Vestavia Hills High School Softball Complex. Visit vestavia.k12.al.us.
March 30-April 3: Vestavia Hills City Schools Spring Break. Visit vestavia.k12.al.us.
513 Montgomery Highway
March 12: Planning & Zoning Commission. 6-7 p.m. Council Chamber. 9780184. March 17: Parks and Recreation Board.
1975 Merryvale Road 823-5011 March 10: Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Vestavia Country Club. $18, $25 for late reservations. Reservations must be received by March 6. March 11: ROI Professional Networking. 7:30-8:30 a.m. Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. March 17: Business Development Committee Meeting. 8-9 a.m. Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.
Vestavia Hills City Council March 9: City Council Meeting. 5 p.m. Council Chamber Call 978-0131.
Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce
7-8:30 a.m. Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 1973 Merryvale Road. Call 978-0166. March 19: Board of Zoning Adjustment. 6-7 p.m. Council Chamber. Call 978-0184. March 23: City Council Meeting. 5 p.m. Council Chamber Call 978-0131.
Area Events March 1-April 2: Cathedral Church of the Advent Lenten Lunches. Full service line 12:05-1 p.m. Express line 12:30-1 p.m. 2017 Sixth Ave. N., Downtown Birmingham. Lunches will be served weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday. Visit adventbirmingham.org. March 2-April 3: Cathedral Church of the Advent Lenten Preaching Series. 12:05 p.m. Cathedral Church of the Advent. Series will feature preachers from all over the world. Visit adventbirmingham.org. March 2- 4: Roller Derby Recruitment Workshop with the Tragic City Rollers. Monday 7-10 p.m., Wednesday 8-10 p.m. Free. Skates available for rental for $3. Visit tragiccityrollers.com.
Lucky me, Lucky you Send us a friend, and they’ll recieve a free signature scrub at their first visit. –Once they come in, you’ll recieve your choice of $10 off or a deep conditioning treatment ($20 value) with your next service!
TURNING HEADS and Raising Eyebrows Book a color service in March to receive a free eyebrow wax with your visit ($15 value).
Locally owned by Jennifer Triola Appointments & Walk-Ins Welcome Mon, Tue, Thurs, & Fri, 10-7 Wed. 12-7 • Sat. 10-4:30 3386 Morgan Dr. In the Western Shopping Center just off Rocky Ridge Rd.
823.7376
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vestaviavoice.com
March 2015 • B19
Calendar Area Events (continued)
March 3: Samford University Orchestra. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. Free. Visit samford.edu.
March 14: Guild Gala. 6 p.m. The Club. Black tie event with a cocktail reception, formal seated dinner, live auction emceed by JOX Roundtable and provided by 4 Barrel Funk. Visit theserviceguild.org.
March 3: Shpongletron 3.1. 8 p.m. Iron City. Music performed by Simon Posford and Raja Ram. $20 in advance, $24 on the day of the show. All ages. Call 202-5483.
March 14: Arc of Jefferson County Shamrock Shindig. 6 p.m. Avondale Brewery. Food by Rusty’s BBQ, music by DJ Mark Goldstein. All proceeds benefit the Arc of Jefferson County. $30 per person, $50 per couple. Visit arcofjeff.org.
March 5: Birmingham Art Crawl. 5-9 p.m. Birmingham Historic Loft District. Monthly showcase of local artists. Free. Visit birminghamartcrawl.com.
March 15: Santana. 8 p.m.-midnight. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. $58$148.50 plus fees and service charges. Call 800745-3000.
March 9-March 14: Theatre UAB’s 12th Annual Festival of 10-Minute Plays. Monday-Friday 7:30-9:45 p.m., Saturday 2-4:15 p.m. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center. Visit alysstephens.org.
March 20-21: Lysa TerKeurst: Your Best Yes: What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. Friday 7-8:15 p.m., Saturday 9:3010:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon. Canterbury United Methodist Church. Adults $30, students $20. Visit canterburyumc.org.
March 10: University of Alabama Baseball vs. Alabama A&M. 2 p.m. Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. $8 adults, $5 ages 18 and under. Visit secticketoffice.com. March 10: The Lone Bellow with Odessa. 8 p.m. Workplay. $16 in advance, $18 day of show. Visit workplay.com. March 13, 15: La Bohème. Friday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. Presented by Opera Birmingham. Visit operabirmingham.org or call 322-6737.
Cathedral Church of the Advent members Fontaine Pope, The Rev. Canon Deborah R. Leighton, Lynn Cassady, The Rev. Andrew C. Pearson, Jr. and Marcus Cassimus. The church will host Lenten lunches and a lecture series in March. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Lyles Dowdle.
March 14: Renew Our Rivers-Cahaba Cleanup 2015. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Amphitheatre Park, 816 County Road 52. Call 874-5623.
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March 14: Oh, Happy Day Spring Market. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wynfrey Hotel. Shop for one-of-a-kind Easter, Mother’s Day, bridal shower and graduation gifts. Call 588-8962 ext. 705.
March 21: 5K for Kids. 9 a.m. Regions Field. Take small steps to end childhood obesity. $30. Visit jlbonline.com/5kforkids. March 31: Sarah McLachlan. 8-11 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. $45$85. Call 800-745-3000.