Volume 2 | Issue 5 | September 2014
Back to the track
A call for something more
The VHHS cross-country team looks ahead at the upcoming season. Find out about this year’s team inside this issue.
See page B11
A day to remember
Local race to benefit ministry started by Vestavia resident By KATIE TURPEN
The cities of Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Homewood will host a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the Vestavia Hills City Center. Details inside.
See page A6
INSIDE Summer Fun........A2 City .......................A5 Business ..............A8 Food ......................A11
Community ........A12 School House.....B6 Sports .................B10 Calendar .............B13
facebook.com/vestaviavoice
On a windy Sunday afternoon in downtown Birmingham, a group of volunteers gathers in a parking lot. As they unload cars, unfold tables and set out food, a long line of people forms, awaiting a hot meal. Jim McFarland shakes hands and gives out water bottles.
Vestavia resident Jim McFarland hands out water bottles as part of a weekly meal served in downtown Birmingham. His ministry, Urban Purpose, provides a variety of services to those in need. Photo by Katie Turpen.
“Everyone here has a different story,” said the Vestavia Hills resident. “We don’t know if they just came off a train or are staying somewhere around here. We are just here to talk to them and serve them the best way we can.” This weekly meal is just one of many ways McFarland, his business partner Mark Jenkins and a wide net of volunteers serve the homeless of Birmingham through their nonprofit
organization, Urban Purpose. Formed in 2010, the ministry helps people through services such as counseling, addiction recovery and employment assistance. This month, Shades Mountain Baptist Church will host a 5K race to raise funds for the nonprofit. It all began when McFarland felt the call for
See MINISTRY | page A18
A new Wald Park Three-phase plan underway to improve park facilities
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Memphis, TN Permit #830
By KATIE TURPEN Councilman Steve Ammons recalls playing at Wald Park as a child. He and other residents see the area as a special community gathering place. That is why the city is examining a plan to prolong the longevity of the site. Wald Park currently features several baseball fields, a walking track, the Vestavia Hills pool, picnic areas,
See WALD PARK | page A19
Reagan, daughter of Emerson Emfinger, enjoys a morning at Wald Park with her mother. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
CALL THE MAIDS AND GET THE SPOTLESS CLEANING CUSTOMERS TRUST AND RECOMMEND.
Proudly keeping homes cleaner and healthier since 1987
871-9338 www.MAIDS.com
Referred for a reason.
A2 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • A3
A4 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
About Us Photo of the Month
The eighth grade cheerleaders from Liberty Park Middle School recently won two first-place titles at a national cheerleading camp. Photo courtesy of Linda Rummell.
Send your submissions for Photo of the Month to
katie@starnespublishing.com
Editor’s Note By Rebecca Walden This month marks the sixth start of one of the most culturally relevant seasons in my daughter’s life – college football, in an SEC household, where parental alma maters are about as agreeable as Corso and Herbstreit on any given autumn Saturday. So far, my Ella’s with the Tide – an allegiance I hope to reinforce this month with a “mommy and me” trip to Bryant-Denny on Sept. 13 for Alabama vs. Southern Miss. And I must Walden give credit where it is due. Sister can hang for a solid two quarters of live football action, without whining or requiring constant trips to the concession stand. She’s come a long way on her shaker etiquette, too (for this, my cheekbones and my patience are especially grateful). Making a visit to my sorority house is a must on any trip to T-town. As are a walk along the Quad, a visit to Denny Chimes and a tour of the Walk of Champions, to say nothing of the choice people watching these locales afford. (Auburn fans need not snicker here – the terms “Bammer” and “Barner” exist for good reason.) In these moments, I love to watch her, all wide-eyed and insatiably curious, exploring campus, taking in the traditions of my collegiate home. I’d claim my son’s pigskin loyalties as well, albeit a bit more complicated given how the folks who regularly watch games at our house have already laid claim to him. They even dubbed Connor the “Golden Ticket” because they are convinced that Auburn plays better whenever he is in the room. Not that I’m
Publisher : Creative Director : Graphic Designer: Editor: Managing Editor : Sports Editor : Staff Writers : Editorial Assistant: Advertising Manager: Sales and Distribution :
Dan Starnes Keith McCoy Emily VanderMey Rebecca Walden Madoline Markham David Knox Katie Turpen Jessa Pease Sydney Cromwell Madison Miller Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Michelle Salem Haynes Nathan Pearman Morgan Robinson Louisa Jeffries Olivia Burton
Copy Editor: Intern: Published by: Vestavia Voice LLC
giving up, but admittedly, it’ll be tough going. The other day, I felt a little piece of me die inside when I gave Connor the choice of two outfits to wear, only to have him promptly reject both options and instead fish out the navy blue Auburn shirt I had hoped would become a forgotten birthday present, banished to the bottom of the dresser drawer. Well played, Golden Ticket. Perhaps I underestimated your ability to succumb to collegiate sports persuasion, even if you are only three years old. Living in a house divided is not my ideal, but that’s partly what makes football season so awesome, isn’t it? We’re part of a state that is for the most part healthily divided between two teams with such meaningful legacies that it makes the next four months, plus the sweetness of January’s bowl games so darn – entertaining. The bizarre actions of outlier fanatics notwithstanding, I love this rivalry. Our passion to watch our teams bring out their collective best every time they play is what makes each college football Saturday such fun. And the cute game day clothes. And the endless grazing on who-cares-how-many-caloriesare-in-these-because-they-taste-so-good appetizers. And the refreshing tailgate drinks. Roll Eagle. War Tide. Raise your glass for SEC Pride! May my team give yours hell (and vice versa),
Contact Information: Vestavia Voice #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 dan@vestaviavoice.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: Rebecca@vestaviavoice.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
For advertising contact: dan@vestaviavoice.com Legals: Vestavia Voice is published monthly. Reproduction or use of edi-
torial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Vestavia Voice is designed to inform the Vestavia community of area school, family and community events. Information in the Vestavia Voice is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of the Vestavia Voice. We reserve the right to edit articles/ photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
Please recycle this paper
Please Support our Sponsors A Little Something (B11) Achieve Clinical Research (B14) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A7) Alabama Gaslight & Grill (A6) Alabama Outdoors (A17) ARC Realty (A3) BAM Sports Grill (B3) Batts’ Chimney Services (B11) Bedzzz Express (B16) Birmingham Bake & Cook Co. (A12) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (A10) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (B9) Bistro V (A5) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A11) Bruster’s Real Ice Cream (A15) Case Remodeling (A5) Conour Insurance Inc. (A15) Construx (B1) Crittenden Partners (B10) Donatos (A15) Fancy Goods Variety (B9) Fi-Plan Partners (A3) Fred Smith Group (B13) Granger Thagard Associates (A19) Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (A11) Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (B8) Home Care Associates (A14) Issis & Sons / O Advertising (A12) Iz Cafe (A8) Just Happy Hounds (A10) Kids Korner Consignment Sale (B6) Kidz Closet Consignment (A7) Klinglers Cafe & Catering (B8) Masterpiece Education (B7) Moran’s Rocky Ridge Hardware (A16) Morningside at Riverchase (B15) Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese (B7) On Time Service (A8) Pappas’ Grill (A19) RealtySouth Marketing (A9) Remax Southern Homes - Becky Hicks (B3) Rocky Ridge Learning Center (A19) Royal Automotive (A20) Sally Bergquist with RealtySouth (A9) Sarver Orthodontics (B7) Serendipity Sweets (B5) The Jewel Source (B5) The Maids (A1) The Pit Crew (B4) The Ridge Eat & Drink (B5) Therapy South Vestavia (A13) Tutoring Club Cahaba Heights (B6) UAB Medicine (B4) Uptown Nail Spa (A14) Vestavia Bowl (A6) Vestavia Hills Lutheran Church (B6) Vision Gymnastics (B3) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A2) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A18) Weigh To Wellness (B2) Whale of a Sale (A7) Wolf Camera (A1) YMCA of Greater Birmingham (B12)
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • A5
City Mayor’s Minute
By Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza As we prepare for fall, the city is focused on its budgeting process. Taking into account the revenue forecast and the department requests we’ve received, I am pleased to report that we will have a balanced budget. One of the benefits of maintaining a healthy balance sheet is our ability to support the equipment needs of various emergency response entities. In this regard, the Vestavia Hills Fire Department recently took possession of a new engine for the Liberty Park fire station. This purchase replaced a 1996 model. We also recently purchased a new ladder truck for Station 1, which replaced a 1991 ladder truck. These purchases have helped the Vestavia Hills Fire Department fleet become completely up to date, save one other engine. This unit will be replaced during the next budget year. We are also moving forward with our paving initiative, in which we will pave roughly 13 miles of roads throughout the city. We’ve prioritized those roads in greatest need of repair for this initial repaving effort. We are spending about $1.3 million to complete the work, which is expected to last two months. Barring
unforeseen circumstances, we expect the project to be complete prior to holiday season. Our paving initiative also includes evaluation of a less expensive alternative to add longevity to our existing roads. Using a pavement restoration product, we will test this method first in October in the Buckhead subdivision. Depending on results, we may extend usage of the product to other subdivisions. From an economic development perspective, the Patchwork Farms development project in conjunction with Daniel Corporation is moving forward. We have several initiatives happening there, and look forward to sharing the details of those with you as we progress further into the project. Your Mayor,
Alberto C. “Butch” Zaragoza
First “Help the Hills” event highlights universal risk of drug addiction
David Howard of Vestavia City Schools and Brad Blount, a 2009 VHHS graduate, talk about drug addiction during the Aug. 18 “Help the Hills” town hall meeting. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL It was standing room only at the first “Help the Hills” event, hosted by Leadership Vestavia Hills on Aug. 18. Tyson Hall at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church was packed with parents, police officers and community leaders ready to hear an honest discussion about drug and alcohol addiction. The night’s speakers included David Howard, the director of administrative services for Vestavia Hills City Schools, and Dale Wisely, a child and adolescent psychologist and the director of student services for Mountain Brook Schools. They gave advice on how parents could prevent drug and alcohol addictions, but both emphasized that addiction could impact anyone regardless of age, accomplishments or affluence. “It betrays all your stereotypes about the
type of people who are supposed to be involved in this,” Wisely said. Brad Blount, a 2009 Vestavia Hills High School graduate, spoke about his own addiction to opiates, which began after a high school shoulder injury. Rick and Suzanne Norris also spoke about their son Tripp, who died in 2011 from a mix of alcohol and heroin. After recounting the events of the night his son died, Rick Norris told the audience that it was time to treat addiction as a disease instead of something shameful to be hidden and ignored. “Drugs have robbed this city of too many of its best and brightest,” Norris said. “It took [Tripp’s] dying to change my perspective. Don’t let that happen to you.” Future “Help the Hills” meetings will be held in homes around the city. To learn more or volunteer your home for a meeting, visit leadershipvestaviahills.com.
A6 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Fire department to host Patriot Day Ceremony By KATIE TURPEN Thirteen years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, reminders stand across the country. This month, residents will gather to honor both local and national heroes. The cities of Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, and Homewood are joining together to host a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony and Patriot’s Day Celebration on Sept. 11. This year’s ceremony will be held at the Vestavia City Center and will begin at 8:45 a.m. The event is hosted by the Vestavia Hills Fire Department. “This is a day to remember,” Vestavia Hills Mayor Butch Zaragoza said. “We will never forget this day.” During last year’s ceremony, Vestavia Hills and Homewood joined with the City
of Mountain Brook in dedicating a beam from the World Trade Center as a memorial. Erected outside the Mountain Brook City Complex, the steel stands in the shape of the Twin Towers to solidify the memory of that tragedy and the thousands who lost their lives as a result. The Vestavia Hills Fire Department recently shared exciting news about the purchase of two new pieces of equipment that will allow them to better serve the city. The department has purchased a Pierce Saber Fire Engine and a Pierce Velocity aerial ladder truck for $1.2 million dollars. The fire engine will serve the Liberty Park area, and the aerial ladder will respond to structure fires throughout the community. The Vestavia Hills Fire Department will host a Patriot Day Ceremony on Sept. 11.
Cahaba Heights road developments move forward By KATIE TURPEN Cahaba Heights residents could soon be seeing improved traffic flow on Dolly Ridge Road. During an August meeting, the council approved an agreement with Sain Associates for a new roadway adjacent to Cahaba Heights Elementary School. The first phase of the plan will include adding a three-lane road section on to Dolly Ridge Road that will taper to two lanes and end at the existing baseball field behind the school. It will provide
new turnouts to the school. Later stages of the plan could include widening Dolly Ridge Road with additional turn lanes. “We have around five development projects going on in Cahaba Heights right now, and tonight we are pleased to publicly announce one of them,” Downes said. “This project will allow for transportation improvements at peak traffic times at Cahaba Heights Elementary School.” The council also approved the sale of the property located at 4325 Dolly Ridge Road to Hydinger, Stewart & Chew Commercial
Properties for $175,000. The company revealed it is already looking at a potential tenant for the space. During July and August, the council: }} Authorized an agreement with ALDOT for landscape improvements at the intersection of Interstate 65 and Highway 31. }} Approved the final 10 percent of the general fund budget, special fund budget and capital fund budget for the fiscal year of 2013-2014.
}} Approved a resolution for a landscape permit and permit to construct a turnout with ALDOT for improvements along U.S. 31 at the new city hall site. }} Approved a resolution to execute and deliver agreements to expedite and facilitate the Patchwork Farms development. Downes noted this agreement included geotechnical, environmental, master planning and survey work.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • A7
Chamber
Preview of
September Luncheon
Chamber Chair Linda Parker, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Mayor Butch Zaragoza, Vestavia Hills City Schools’ Superintendent Sheila Phillips, Chamber President Karen Odle, and Doug Dean, Chamber Vice Chair of Programming. Photo by Rebecca Walden.
Krystal Pino, Kassouf and Shella Sylla, SisterGolf. Photo by Rebecca Walden.
Superintendent highlights district priorities at Chamber luncheon By REBECCA WALDEN In her keynote speaker address to the Chamber of Commerce, newly appointed Superintendent Sheila Phillips shared an ambitious plan for system-wide strategic growth. She articulated several of the system’s areas for improvement, and laid out a strategy for how the school system can address them. On her list of high priority issues, Phillips included enrollment trends, the need for digital device consistency in academics, and the expectation that each school deliver equitable learning experiences. “Every single student we touch on a daily basis should receive from us the foundation
they need to achieve as much success as possible,” said Phillips. In that regard, Phillips announced plans to initiate a yearlong strategic planning process, during which time those involved will conduct thorough analysis of all the information on hand about the district. According to Phillips, this process has not taken place in the school system since 2007. She cited the rapid change taking place in education and the new faces throughout the school system’s administration and faculty, make this the right time to assess district performance. “We are a system of continuous improvement,” Phillips said, noting that it’s a belief she
takes to heart, and one she expects district-wide faculty to embrace. In her recent address to faculty, Phillips shared a five-point list detailing how she defines continuous improvement, and what that should look like in Vestavia Hills City Schools: } “Do what is right on behalf of every student.” } “Be a servant leader, no matter what the role.” } “Challenge our children to think and dream.” } “Challenge yourself to think and dream.” } “Fulfill all responsibilities with courage and honor.”
Suneel Merchant
The Chamber will reconvene its monthly luncheon series on Sept. 9 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., with keynote speaker Sunel Merchant, who will speak about his experience on Sept. 11, 2001 (Merchant was on the 49th floor of one World Trade Center when the tower was hit). Reservations must be received by 4 p.m. the Friday before the luncheon and the cost is $18. Late reservations cost $25. For more, visit vestaviahills. org.
A8 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Ov er
to n
Rd
Vestavia Hills 18 Street S.
Business Happenings Rosedale Dr
280
28 Ave S th
31
r Rd
oo Oxm
e Av ey
er Ov epe
nd
enc eD
r
Overton Rd
149
sH ng pri
nS ee Gr
ore
esh Lak
2
Dr
Rd
d
id
8
de Sha
Cahaba Heights Rd
3
La ke R
d
1
ue Bl e Av rd
31
fo Al
m Colu
yS
10
7
459
Rd Ridge Rocky
on tg o
d
m
er y
Hw
aR bian
65
9
11
M
W
Pk re
wy
ho
s ke
La
280
ck
Rd
Ro
est s Cr
yR
149
65
459
6
5
ge
wy
or R
o Oxm
Rd
Liberty Pkwy
Ind
ll Va
n to
12
VestaviaVoice.com
Coming Soon Cahaba Heights Pediatric Dentistry is scheduled to open at 4213 Dolly Ridge Road this month. Dr. Andrew Richardson offers dentistry for children to young adults. 490-6850. cahabaheightspediatricdentistry. com.
1
Now Open Eye Do has moved from its location off Highway 119 to Cahaba Heights, 3125 Sunview Drive. 977-2777. facebook.com/eyedoeyecenter.
2
Doggy Day Spa is now open at 4248 Cahaba Heights Court. It offers pet spa and grooming services. 969-3295.
3
Relocations and Renovations Birmingham Bake & Cook Company has moved from 5291 Valleydale Road to 3112 Heights Village in Cahaba Heights. The location had a soft opening in August and plans to hold a grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 6. 980-3661. bakeandcookco.com.
4
In the Making has moved to a new building at 4232 Dolly Ridge Road. The fine fabrics, yarns, arts and crafts store was formerly located in the Heights Village. 298-1309. shopinthemaking.com.
5
New Ownership Little Sprouts Day School, 2512 Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 108, is under new ownership and has a new name, Rocky Ridge Learning Center. Christa Wolfe is the new owner and operator. The school serves children ages six weeks to five years and will soon be offering new
6
September 2014 • A9 programs. 978-8949. rockyridgelearningcenter.com. Anytime Fitness, 1360 Montgomery Highway, is now owned by Don Gmelin. 822-5955. anytimefitness.com.
7
News and Accomplishments Bistro V, 521 Montgomery Highway, is now open for lunch and dinner on Mondays, and is no longer serving Sunday brunch. Its weekday hours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. 823-1505. bistro-v.com.
8
Pappas’ Grill, 1066 Montgomery Highway, is now open on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 823-4458. thepappasgrill.com.
9
Masterpiece Education is now offering after-school classes in art, music appreciation and theater. The business is located at 2531 Rocky Ridge Road. 572-9884. me-vestavia.com.
10
Philly Connection is now offering delivery service to homes and businesses as well as catering service. The restaurant offers sandwiches, wings, salads and more seven days a week from its location at 1360 Montgomery Highway, Suite 106. 637-5588. phillyconnection.com.
11
Hirings and Promotions RealtySouth, 2409 Acton Road, Suite 137, has hired Charles Graham as a Realtor for its Over the Mountain-Acton Road office. 978-9000. realtysouth.com.
12
IN HONOR OF OUR VETERANS Because we treasure our freedom and owe a debt of gratitude to those who have secured our liberties, RealtySouth is extending FREE Pre-License classes to all Veterans interested in becoming a Real Estate Agent. If you know of a Veteran who would be interested, please share this opportunity.
Call 205.325.1397 for more information.
A10 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Business Spotlight
968-5100 3161 Cahaba Heights Road, Suite 217 Monday-Sunday- 5 a.m.- 8 p.m. 459 cahabafitness.com
Bl ue
La ke R
d
Summit Blvd
280
By KATIE TURPEN Step inside Cahaba Fitness, and there is no confusion on where to go or what to do. A far cry from a labyrinth of machines and rooms, it is clear this gym is focused on one thing: you. “We are all about the client,” Owner Brian Burns said. “We don’t want anyone to come in here and feel intimidated.” Tucked away in Cahaba Heights behind Satterfield’s, the studio is a one-on-one personal training facility that offers a wide variety of fitness options. Whether a client is hoping to shed weight, tone up or receive professional nutrition coaching, the staff of seven trainers is ready to assist. Burns’ passion for fitness started at a young age. He opened Cahaba Fitness in 2005 with the intention of creating a space for people to work out in a comfortable atmosphere, and he has not looked back. “I’m still pinching myself today,” Burns said. Burns said he sees people of all ages walk through the door eager to begin their fitness journey. When a client walks in, the first thing he does is sit down with them and give them a complex fitness evaluation to find out
Cahaba Heights Rd
Rid
ge R
d
Pump House Rd
Do lly
Cahaba Fitness
Read past Business Spotlights at VestaviaVoice.com
(above) Cahaba Fitness Owner Brian Burns (third from left), stands with his staff outside their studio. (left) Brian Burns directs a fitness exercise at his studio, Cahaba Fitness, located behind Satterfield’s in Cahaba Heights. Photos by Katie Turpen.
what their needs and goals are From there, he develops a workout plan. “We are completely focused on them and what they want,” Burns said. “My favorite part of it all is watching someone’s transformation.” On its Facebook page and website, Cahaba Fitness posts more than just workout tips. You can find unique
healthy recipes such as a chocolate power smoothie, the perfect hardboiled egg, or barbecue pork and apple kabobs. There are also pictures of the staff engaging in various activities together, revealing they function much like a family. In addition to providing a variety of fitness services, Burns and his team
harbor a strong desire to give back to the community. He said he has a plan in place this fall to work with inner city children and offer health screenings. “We want to bring in awareness about healthy habits,” Burns said. Burns makes it obvious he and his team are in the fitness business to do
more than help people get in shape. They are looking to make people better individuals. “It’s about changing lives and changing lifestyles,” Burns said. “We do training for the whole person, so they are able to have an overall life balance.”
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • A11
Restaurant Showcase Summit Blvd
lly
459
352-2345 3144 Heights Village Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-close bamsportsgrill.com
d
280
Bl u
eL
ak eR
By KATIE TURPEN When one hears the word “bam,” a number of things may come to mind. Sean Berry thinks of listening to football announcers in the South. “It can relate to Alabama, to Birmingham, anything you want,” he said. “It’s just a high-impact word.” He now hopes it will become a favorite restaurant name for Vestavia Hills residents. Berry opened BAM Sports Grill in the former Yankee Pizzeria in Heights Village at the end of June. Originally from Texas, Berry moved to Birmingham last fall after scouting out different locations. His goal was to open a restaurant that served familiar Southern classics. “This is the food I grew up on,” he said. Stacks of firewood stand on either the side of the bar, which Berry said is a direct signal to the type of grill the restaurant uses. The unique menu includes dishes inspired by places such as Texas and New Orleans. For starters, try something outside the box such as the Grilled Peach, Chicken and Goat Cheese salad topped with crispy fried tortilla strips and tossed in a grilled peach vinaigrette. For a hearty appetizer, look no further than the Big BAM Nachos
Cahaba Heights Rd
R id
ge
Rd
Pump House Rd
Do
BAM Sports Grill
Read past Restaurant Showcases at VestaviaVoice.com
(above) Bam Sports Grill’s Chicken Finger Basket comes with crisp fried chicken strips served with fries and country gravy. Photo courtesy of Bam Sports Grill. (left) Sean Berry opened BAM Sports Grill in June with the goal of become a family-friendly neighborhood “Cheers” in Cahaba Heights. Photo by Katie Turpen.
smothered with queso, pinto beans, lettuce, tomato and sliced jalapenos or the Okra Fries & Remoulade. Entrees include Stuffed Shrimp & Stone Ground Grits and the Tex Mex Pork Carnitas. Berry’s favorite item is the Build-Your-Own BAM Burger. Diners can choose from a variety of meats, cheeses, sauces and toppings, including fried pork crackling and roasted green chiles. “Even if I didn’t work here, I would
come eat our burger several times a week,” Berry said. And don’t leave before trying the Sweet Potato Pie, two deep fried pies dusted with powdered sugar and served with homemade marshmallow ice cream. BAM’s bar features Birmingham’s locally crafted brews on tap and an ample selection of bottled beer, wine and liquor. Glass-bottled sodas, fresh-squeezed orange juice and frozen limeade and lemonade are
also available. For those looking for a place to watch football games this fall, BAM has you covered. Eighteen televisions strategically placed around the oneroom space allow diners to see every bit of the action. “We were packed during the World Cup, and that was just soccer,” Berry said. “We’re excited about football season. There’s not a seat in the house where you can’t see a television.”
Berry has noticed that people in Cahaba Heights enjoy going out to eat, and he wants to continue to serve them and the surrounding community the best way he knows how: through good Southern food. “I wanted a place that could be the neighborhood ‘Cheers,’ a place you could take your family,” he said. “I love Birmingham and love the people here.”
A12 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Community Debutantes host Little Black Dress and Pearls Party
Vestavia Toastmasters member shines in competition
Weylin Bush
Hostesses Margaret Sharbel, Francie Harris, Callie Garrison and Maggie Seeley stand in the garden at the Birmingham Musuem of Art. Photo courtesy of Maria Cecil.
Callie Garrison and Margaret Sharbel of Vestavia Hills and Francie Harris and Maggie Seeley of Hoover hosted a Little Black Dress and Pearls party at the Birmingham Museum of Art in July. Catherine Angelo, Gina Maiola, Francesca Malensek of Vestavia Hills and Ellen Marsh of Hoover attended the event. The hostesses and guests dressed in their favorite little black dresses and pearls and participated in a scavenger hunt organized by the Museum staff. After the scavenger hunt, everyone enjoyed a lunch of chicken salad and
fruit served in the Members Room. The tables were decorated with pink roses and green hydrangeas arranged by Mary Noel Sellers, godmother of Maggie Seeley. An assortment of cake bites was served for dessert. Each guest received a set of party cups embossed with a little black dress and the date and location of the event. The young women and their guests will be presented at the 2014 Poinsettia Debutante Ball on Dec. 27. -Submitted by Maria Cecil
Weylin Bush, member of the Vestavia Toastmasters, represented District 77, which includes Alabama, North Florida and East Mississippi in the Toastmasters International Speech Contest. Bush qualified to advance to the semifinal rounds of the contest in the World Championship of Public Speaking which was held at the Toastmasters International Convention Aug. 23 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Bush passed through several rounds with his speech, “Pursuit of Perfection.” “There is a lot of wisdom in his speech especially since Weylin has risen above his former life of gangs and drugs in pursuit of his own perfection,” Vestavia Toastmaster member, Jane O’Brien said. -Submitted by Jane O’Brien
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • A13
Wendi Lu receives Vestavia Hills Art Association award
VHHS graduate Wendi Lu, the recipient of the Vestavia Hills Art Association’s 2014 Art Achievement Award, stands with some of her her creations. Photo courtesy of Winnie Cooper.
Wendi Lu, a recent graduate of Vestavia Hills High School, was this year’s recipient of the Vestavia Hills Art Association’s Art Achievement Award. She is the daughter of Minqing Lu and Mingyan Hu. Lu plans to attend Columbia University in New York this fall and major in architecture. Professional artists and art educators of the Vestavia Hills Art Association’s Scholarship Committee said they were especially impressed by her unique drawing ability and exceptional creativity. She displayed a quality of empathy to social issues as well. Her compositions in pen and ink were outstanding while her
creations with color readily displayed a “wow” factor. The overall quality and volume of Lu’s work attested to her industrious nature. Her work was viewed during Vestavia Hills High School’s Art Show. The VHAA Art Achievement Award is an annual award of $300 presented on the merits of a student’s apparent artistic talent, academic standing and how the award will be applied. This year the award included an additional $100 gift certificate from Alabama Art Supply Inc. The award is presented to a graduating senior who is continuing his or her education in the visual arts, art education or a related field.
Coronets Dance Club hosts meeting
A joint board meeting of the Coronets Dance Club was held at the home of Coronets President Jean Hendrickson on Aug. 1. Pictured from left to right are Parliamentarian Edna Alderman, Secretary Carolyn Delk, President Jean Hendrickson and Treasurer Shirley Palmes. Photo courtesy of Shirley Evans.
VHHS senior featured in Black Warrior River PSA
VHHS senior Bennett Smith recently recorded a PSA in support of the Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s water protection efforts. Photo courtesy of Tracy Bennett Smith.
Summer is a great time to remind everyone about the importance of keeping rivers clean. Not only do we paddle, fish and swim in area waters but they also provide the water we use for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Freestyle kayaking Team U.S.A. member and VHHS senior Bennett Smith recently created a 30 second PSA video to raise awareness for Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s water protection efforts. Charter Media donated airtime on both
Charter and Bright House for the summers of 2014 and 2015. The PSA features Smith who earned a spot on Team U.S.A. for the world championship last fall. He finished fifth in the world in the junior division. Smith trains on the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Black Warrior River near Oneonta and Cullman. He knows firsthand how important it is for everyone to do their part in keeping our rivers clean. -Submitted by Tracey Bennett Smith
A14 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Fall consignment sale roundup
Tips for consignment shopping }}
Use the early part of the month to make your “wish list.” What items do you need the most? By the second week of the month, you should be ready to grab your shopping bags, your wish list and your checkbook.
}}
Plan to invest extra time in studying your items before you approach the register. “Gently used” is a subjective term. While it is a matter of practice for most consignment sale organizers to carefully screen and reject any items that are out of style, stained or in otherwise poor quality, some items inevitably slip through.
}}
Do your research on each sale’s shopping rules. For example, some allow shoppers to use strollers and laundry baskets, whereas others do not. Payment policies also vary. Know in advance which sales accept credit cards and which ones are cash or check only.
By REBECCA WALDEN Looking for stylish clothes, popular toys, high quality books, baby gear and kids’ room décor, all at deeply discounted prices? Welcome to September – basically the Super Bowl for bargain savvy shoppers in the market for gently used clothing, accessories and gear tailored for the tween and under set. This year, consignment sale season in Vestavia Hills kicks off with Kids’ Korner Consignment Sale, benefitting Mountain Chapel Preschool, and is followed by two-day events at Mountaintop Community Church and Vestavia Hills United Methodist. To help you map out your fall consignment sale shopping, we’ve collected a handy reference guide for the sales taking place in our city.
Whale of a Sale will be held at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church on Sept. 25.
Kids Korner
Market on the Mountain
Whale of a Sale
Where: Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church
Where: Mountaintop Community Church Student Center (Formerly the Family Life Center)
Where: Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church Lighthouse Gym
When: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; 5-8 p.m. (half off of select items)
When: Friday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (select items 25 percent off)
When: Thursday, Sept. 25, 5-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (select items 50 percent off noon-2 p.m.)
mckidskorner.org
marketonthemountain.com
whaleofasale.blogspot.com
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • A15
Parenting expert to address Vestavia parents Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation to host bestselling author By REBECCA WALDEN The author of the New York Times bestselling book that became the basis for the movie “Mean Girls” is scheduled to speak in Vestavia Hills. Since publishing Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World, parenting expert Rosalind Wiseman has only expanded her repertoire of research and titles, focused on enhancing the emotional and social well-being of children and teens. On Oct. 2, the speaker will share her thoughts on this and many other issues facing parents during a special luncheon sponsored by PNC Bank
and benefiting the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation (VHCSF). “I am so grateful that Vestavia Hills’ community has asked me to be a part of their on-going efforts to nurture the physical and emotional well-being of your children,” Wiseman said. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. at Vestavia Country Club. Five pricing tiers are available, with tickets starting at $50 per person if ordered by the early bird deadline of Sept 1. After that date, general admission tickets start at $60. “Raising children in 2014 can sometimes be challenging, with social media, ever-changing technology and the increase of school yard power, and we felt that Wiseman could provide
Luncheon featuring Rosalind Wiseman Supporting Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation
Thursday, Oct. 2 11:30 a.m.
Vestavia Country Club vestaviafoundation.org
luncheon participants with some valuable tips on how to navigate through the elementary and teenage years,” said VHCSF Executive Director Ashley Thompson. Proceeds from the luncheon will support the Foundation’s mission to provide perpetual financial support to each of the Vestavia Hills schools and to protect and
Rosalind Wiseman will headline the luncheon with insight from her latest book, Masterminds & Wingmen: Helping Our Boys Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World. She is an internationally recognized expert on children, teens, parenting, bullying, social justice, and ethical leadership. Photo courtesy of Penny Simon.
foster the standard of academic excellence in the school system. The non-profit organization provides grants each year to Vestavia Hills educators for technology improvements, classroom enhancement projects, and professional development opportunities for teachers. The Foundation currently has a grant-making
endowment of more than $2.2 million. Since providing its first grants in 1999, the it has awarded more than $667,000 to Vestavia Hills city schools and the Board of Education. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit vestaviafoundation. org.
9/30/14
824-1112 CATERING TOO!
9/30/14
9/30/14
SIGN UP & SAVE AT
donatos.com Limited Delivery Area
A16 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Summer Fun Photo Contest WINNERS
Vestavia residents Kylie and Lucie Reid and Sydney Harris having a fun day on Smith Lake. Photo by Linda Marcrum.
Find more great photos by visiting vestaviavoice.com
Virginia and Cash Dove in Kakegawa, Japan, where they attended school for the summer. Photo by Amanda Dove.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • A17
Contest Runners Up
Reading Vestavia Voice with the Maasai while on safari in Kenya.
Hannah sneaking up on Madison during a front yard shaving cream fight. Photo by Michelle Waldrop.
Turner at the Cooperstown, N.Y., dream park where he played in a baseball tournament with the Vestavia Diamondbacks. Photo by Patrick T. Murphy. Jr.
Barrett in San Francisco, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Photo by Patrick T. Murphy Jr.
Photo by Melodie Mallette.
“Happiness comes from within.” Photo by Melissa Raspino.
Alisha Sparks Studio "Happiness"
A18 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
MINISTRY
CONTINUED from page A1
Last year’s Urban Purpose 5K and Kids Mess Fest, held at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, raised more than $20,000 for Urban Purpose. Photo by Heather Durham.
something more in his life. Something missing McFarland had spent his entire career in the construction business. But several years ago, he felt like something was missing in his life. “I started to become dissatisfied,” he said. “It became a burden to me. I realized I was looking for something else.” One day, while at a reception for a friend, McFarland heard the question, “When are you going to let God start dreaming your dreams in your heart?” He immediately stopped to reflect. “That’s when it really hit me,” he said. Searching for a way to fulfill his calling, McFarland and his wife, Karen, began ministering to people
under a bridge on Interstate 65. “I started carrying firewood down there,” McFarland said. “My wife would bring tea and soup. We really just began reaching out to these people and forming relationships.” In 2010, McFarland decided to quit the construction business for good, and the Urban Purpose ministry was born. “I just knew I had the heart for something more,” McFarland said. “We are all broken, people are struggling.” McFarland was joined by Jenkins, a youth minister at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, who began bringing students down to the spot under the interstate. He was transformed by the experience. “After taking students down to the bridge, I knew I wanted to do this,”
Runners begin the 2013 Urban Purpose 5K, which runs through the hills and neighborhoods near Shades Mountain Baptist Church. Photo by Heather Durham.
Jenkins said. More than a weekly meal Today, McFarland and Jenkins operate Urban Purpose out of an office in Homewood. They provide food, clothing, shelter, employment opportunities, drug and alcohol recovery and help with psychological needs for homeless people living in Birmingham. Urban Purpose’s office space, nicknamed “The Hub,” is shared with about 10 other ministries. McFarland said this encourages them to share ideas. “We are about navigating all things that deal with life and getting them back on their feet,” McFarland said. McFarland speaks with everyone from struggling married couples to
recovering addicts. “We meet them at the coffee shop and listen to their story,” McFarland said. “Then whether it’s doctor’s visits, court visits, we are there to support them every step of the way.” He said there is also a spiritual component to the ministry, and he wants people to realize that transformation can be a complex process. “Some people think that a car or just getting a job will solve their problems,” McFarland said. “There are a lot of different components.” In addition to the daily operations of helping people meet their needs, every Sunday afternoon, McFarland, Jenkins and a group of volunteers head to the parking lot downtown and serve a meal to anywhere from 40 to 120 people.
“It’s about building a relationship with these people,” McFarland said. “This ministry has really required me to sit down and think about things.” Support from the Urban Purpose 5K This September, Shades Mountain Baptist Church will host the second annual Urban Purpose 5K and Kids Mess Fest benefiting the ministry. “We’ve done a Boston butt fundraiser, and we thought we should do a race, too.” McFarland said. “We really want to bring families together and grow this thing.” McFarland said the race is challenging, with the course running through the hills and neighborhoods
CONTINUED on page A19
VestaviaVoice.com
Urban Purpose 5K and Kids Mess Fest Saturday, Sept. 27 8 a.m. Shades Mountain Baptist Church urbanpurpose.org
behind the church. The Kids Mess Fest portion of the event will take place on the field at the church. There will be water games, slip ’n slides and inflatables. Parents participating in the 5K can drop their children off in this area before the race. Event attendees can also donate snack items to support Urban Purpose. Suggested items include multi-packs of peanut butter crackers or cheese crackers, granola bars, juice boxes, individual applesauce or fruit cups, peanuts or small bottles of water (all nonperishable). These will be packed in zip-close bags and given out at the downtown meals on Sundays. Last year’s event drew more than 200 people and raised around $20,000 for Urban Purpose. McFarland said he is glad to connect Vestavia Hills with the work of his organization. “An interesting point is that we work with people from over the mountain just as much as we do from downtown,” he said. “These people are not far away.” For more about Urban Purpose, visit urbanpurpose.org.
September 2014 • A19 WALD PARK
CONTINUED from page A1 the Civic Center, the Senior’s Lodge and a community playground. “From a historical perspective, we are looking at a lot of different issues,” said Ammons.“We wanted the highest and best use for Wald Park. There is clearly a need for many types of upgrades. We have an aging civic center, pool and lodge area.” “We are looking at what could happen on the site to leverage our sports facilities,” said City Manager Jeff Downes. A park committee was formed of city employees and community stakeholders to put a three-part plan into action. Phase one involves taking a look at the ground itself. In July, the council approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood for preliminary geotechnical work at Wald Park for a total of $11,500. The scope of work includes investigation of the subsurface conditions of the city-owned property of Wald Park and Public Works buildings on U.S. 31. “We wanted to see what we are capable of doing, seeing if we could put a new facility there,” Ammons said. Mayor Butch Zaragoza recalled the giant hole where the community playground now stands and pointed out that it was once a dumping ground. “We want to make sure we know what is underneath that ground,” Zaragoza said. “We are making sure to look at everything upfront. We don’t want to build anything on unsuitable soil.”
In March, Wald Park was selected for “Heart Your Park,” a program introduced as part of Macy’s “Secret Garden” campaign, which aims to raise awareness and money for local parks across the country. In partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Macy’s stores across the country each selected a local park or green space in their community to support through the program. From March 7 to March 31, customers donated a dollar or more to Macy’s and the store matched the donations up to $250,000. Money will go toward improvement and maintenance of Wald Park, such as maintaining trails, playgrounds, and ball fields. Wald Park has become a central part of the Vestavia Hills community. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
Phase two will involve looking at sports needs and getting feedback from the community through open meetings and public forums. Phase three will involve putting a master plan in place and looking at all the financial details. “It’s going to be a several-year process, and we don’t want this to just be a wish list,” Ammons said. “We are taking a hard look at everything.”
Ammons said this process goes along directly with plans to develop the U.S. 31 corridor. “We have a lot going on right now with U.S. 31 development, and we want this to be in accordance with that plan,” Ammons said. “We are looking closely at economic development.” In addition to long-term planning, short-term changes and progress are already being seen in the
area. As of Aug. 4, Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation changed the Civic Center membership policy. A membership is required to use the gym, showers, indoor track and game tables at the Civic Center. Memberships are free of charge for Vestavia Hills residents and can be obtained at 1973 Merryvale Road. For additional information regarding the policy, contact Jason Burnett at jburnett@vhal.org.
School House B6 Sports B10 Calendar B13
SECTION
B
A modern twist on an ancient art Birmingham Fencing Club keeping sport alive
By KATIE TURPEN Walk into a fencing class, and you’ll immediately hear the clinking of swords and buzzing of timers. Teens in white protective gear attached to wires dart back and forth in a delicate dance. Although this sport dates back to the 1300s in Spain, it is clear it hasn’t lost its flair. At least not in Vestavia Hills. The Birmingham Fencing Club has been located at Park South Plaza right beside Alabama Piano for 10 years. However, after extensive flooding in April, the club will be moving to 1581 Montgomery Highway in Hoover, just past Golden Rule BBQ. The club is a nonprofit dedicated to instruction in the sport of fencing in the greater Birmingham area. Olympic medalist Hongyun Sun and international medalist and Olympic referee Yuanjing Wang serve as the club’s coaches. Before joining the club in 1998, both were Chinese National Team coaches. They, along with Club President David Arias, reside in Vestavia Hills. Arias said he enjoys competing in the sport, defined as the martial art of fighting with blades. When asked
Fencing Fast Facts Birmingham Fencing Club President David Arias explains that three weapons are used in modern fencing: foil, épée, and sabre. }} Foil: a light thrusting weapon that targets the torso, neck, but not the arms or legs. }} Épée: a thrusting weapon like the foil, but much heavier. In épée, the entire body is valid target. }} Sabre: a light cutting and thrusting weapon that targets the entire body above the waist, except the weapon hand.
The Birmingham Fencing Club began in 1998. Coaching is provided by Olympic medalist Hongyun Sun and international medalist and Olympic referee Yuanjing Wang. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
how he found his way into fencing, his answer is simple. “I wanted to exercise. I knew didn’t want to run,” he said. “So I thought I’d try it out.” The club offers regular classes for different levels of fencers. Students must wear protective gear and are attached to electrical wires that send
messages to the score boxes. Fall classes begin the first week of September. Membership fees are $140 annually or $90 a month. Arias said age does not matter when it comes to this sport. “We work with everyone from 11 to 87-year-olds,” he said. Beyond the classes, the club also
travels to different tournaments. The club has several youth fencers competing at the national level and even the international level and has hosted several youth tournaments. Arias said that people drive even as far as from Montgomery to come to the club. He also noted the club members have received fencing
scholarships to schools such as Harvard University, MIT, Penn State University and Brown University. “It’s really great to watch children come here and see their transformation,” Arias said. For more information or to register for fall classes, visit fencingclub.org.
B2 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
A passion for change Cahaba Heights resident campaigns for city improvements By KATIE TURPEN When Jack Norris saw children walking to school down Dolly Ridge Road in Cahaba Heights, he was immediately concerned for their safety. “I would not allow a child of mine to walk down this road,” Norris said, noting that the intersection at Cahaba Heights Road and Dolly Ridge Road lacked proper pedestrian signage and signals. Norris came to Cahaba Heights in August 2013 but he and his wife have been living in Alabama for 17 years. During his short time in the Cahaba Heights area, Norris has made a myriad of observations about his community. His concerns included no crossing guards at the intersection of Dolly Ridge Road and Cahaba Heights Road, a lack of a Vestavia Hills Police Ordinance Enforcement Officer, an overgrowth of weeds around the Cahaba Heights welcome sign, and stream erosion near Dolly Ridge Road and Meadow Lane. “People love to complain but it’s important to complain in the right way,” Norris said of effective ways to make a request to the city. “It’s important to show up to council meetings and be involved.” Norris contacted the school system and city officials about the Dolly Ridge Road and Cahaba Heights Road intersection. He had several meetings with City Manager Jeff Downes and addressed the city council during a May meeting. Now, nearly a year since he made his first observation, his efforts have come to fruition and Norris has deemed himself successful. There are now caution ribbons with a plan for
Jack Norris stands in front of a Cahaba Heights sign. The area around the sign was recently cleaned. Photo by Katie Turpen.
wall and railings on the stream area near Dolly Ridge Road and Meadow Lane. Warning signs have been placed along Dolly Ridge and Cahaba Heights Road. Additionally, the weeds have been cleared around the Cahaba Heights welcome sign. “This is the welcoming sign to our community,” Norris said. “It’s very important it stays clean and beautiful.”
Norris gave a presentation at an August city council meeting summarizing his efforts titled “A tribute to the city that listens.” He thanked individuals in the city government, city school system and police and fire departments and deemed Vestavia Hills a great place to live. “My efforts truly show that a citizen, especially senior citizens, can take an active part in government affairs and be a positive influence in
the community,” Norris said. Norris is also active in the greater Birmingham community. He is a volunteer public speaker and training coordinator at the Birmingham Career Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. He will also soon be speaking at the Vestavia Chapter of the Osher Lifetime Learning Institute (OLLI) about his time working for the railroad in the 1950s.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • B3
VHHS senior takes on anti-bullying as platform By REBECCA WALDEN Fresh off of her Top 15 win in the national Miss High School America pageant, Vestavia Hills High School senior Gianna Blaudeau is wasting no time in turning what was her pageant platform — anti-bullying — into a multipronged advocacy program. For the poised teen, anti-bullying is more than a cause du jour. Just three years ago, as a freshman at Vestavia Hills High School, she was tormented on social media and in the hallways at school. The target of older high school girls who viewed her as a threat, Blaudeau could not escape the catty behavior, which found her recreationally in her dance studio and everywhere she virtually went, thanks to social media. “Anti-bullying is one of those topics that people like to say is overdone,” said Blaudeau. “Administrators have told me, ‘Oh, we have someone coming once a year,’ but that is not enough. I’ve even had schools reject my offer to come and speak because they just didn’t feel like it was necessary. But it is a matter that continuously needs to be addressed.” During her freshman year, Blaudeau attracted the attention of an 11th-grade
With dual citizenship in France and the U.S., VHHS senior Gianna Blaudeau said she’s got a lot of experience coping with the reality of not fitting in. Photo courtesy of Gianna Blaudeau.
boy, who asked her out on a date. It was her first date ever, and she said she felt such excitement going into the evening. Sensing that Blaudeau was encroaching on their territory, however, several 11th-grade girls did not like the developing relationship at all.
Before long, according to Blaudeau, baseless rumors were being spread. “I never felt safe anywhere I was,” she said. “It is so difficult to keep your head up when you feel completely surrounded. Social media is the worst. It’s the battleground of mean girls. That is where they will completely
destroy you.” With the support of her family and a few close friends, Blaudeau persevered. By her junior year, she went on to participate in the Miss Alabama High School America program. And through that, she’s finally found a forum to which she can lend her voice.
“I’ve been able to speak to over 6,000 students in Alabama about the topic of anti-bullying,” she said, adding that she focuses her remarks on the Crown C.A.R.E.S. platform, which stands for Creating A Respectful Environment in Schools. “I strive not to do what those girls did to me,” said Blaudeau, who is currently in the final stages of launching a series of free self-motivation classes for girls, to be held this fall at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest. “Poor self-worth is heavily linked to bullying,” she said. “You feel insecure about yourself, so you bully other people.” She added that the importance of her platform is an especially difficult — but all the more vital — message to deliver in a community like Vestavia Hills. “No one tells anybody about it,” she said. “These mean girls just get to go on doing this their entire lives. They go off to college and run sororities as mean girls. They grow up and run Vestavia, still being mean girls. That is just how it happens. But if we can teach young children that this is not right, especially if we can teach that to the girls, we can shape better, healthier behavior.”
B4 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Finding deeper water Vestavia resident writes book with spiritual message By KATIE TURPEN When Joseph Beckham published his book on spirituality, he realized people were looking for a guide on how to live a more meaningful life. Aptly titled, Deeper Water for Thirsty Souls, Beckham’s book offers his advice on navigating life. “People are hard like rocks, carrying around all these burdens,” he said. “They need a practical guide.” Beckham, a Vestavia resident of seven years, grew up in Chickasaw near Mobile. Following a stint in the U.S. Air Force, he graduated from the University of Alabama and pursued a career in public relations. He is currently Dean of Instructions at Transformation Ministries in Chelsea and also teaches part-time at Fortis Institute, a career college. His background is in writing, teaching, and training of all kinds including speech writing, features, and news at Alabama Power and the Alabama Eye Bank. His book evolved from posts on his blog titled “The Blog in the Fog” and was written in an attempt to address issues facing the modern church. “People told me for years that I needed to write a book,” Beckham said, adding that he used friends
Vestavia resident Joseph Beckham is a published author and also the Dean of Instruction at Transformation Ministries in Chelsea. Photo by Katie Turpen.
to help publish it. “This book is for people that really want more.” In the book’s forward he mentions the one phrase that sums up his book is “the need for intimacy with God.” Beckham said he sees people everyday being forced in
many different directions. “There are so many things pulling on people such as stress, deadlines etc.,” he said. “I want to make life simple.” Keeping it simple also means adding humor into subject matter
that can be hard to digest. “At heart, I’m a teacher,” he said. “I really wanted to keep it light. I enjoy infusing humor into heavy material so people can still enjoy it.” Beckham has received positive feedback from readers but understands that the subject matter is not for everyone. Regardless, he wrote the piece with the average working person in mind. “The chapters are shorter because people are busy,” he said. “However, there is still a lot to think about in there.” He draws from his experience at Transformation Ministries, a faithbased nonprofit ministry providing services to individuals and families affected by addictions, post-traumatic disorder, marriage issues, rebellious behavior and other family crisis. He and his team see people from all walks of life and aim to help them physically, spiritually and mentally. Through his writing and his role at Transformation Ministries, Beckham wants to help people find hope in a world where it seems elusive. “I don’t have all the answers but I think I’ve got some of them,” he said. Beckham’s book is available on Amazon and is also available at The Carpenter’s Shop in Vestavia as well as other bookstores. For more, visit Beckham’s blog at thebloginthefog. com.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • B5
Q&A with
Sheila Phillips By WILLIAM C. SINGLETON III Vestavia Hills students will return to classrooms Aug. 11 with a new leader at the helm of the city’s schools. The Vestavia Hills Board of Education in May named Sheila Phillips, 48, as its new superintendent. She replaces Jamie Blair, who will serve in an advisory position until his official retirement date, Oct. 1, 2015. Phillips will make $167,500 annually under a three-year contract, which also includes a vehicle allowance of $9,888 a year. Phillips has been with the Vestavia Hills school system since 2010, serving as assistant principal of the high school until she was appointed the system’s assistant superintendent in May 2012. She held that position until her recent appointment. Phillips agreed to answer a few questions about her selection as superintendent.
Q
How do you feel about being named the new superintendent?
A
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity just to be able to serve this community and the district in this new role. I have grown very passionate for the work that is being done here and for the people and students of Vestavia Hills.
Q
Do you think your close working relationship with former
Superintendent Jamie Blair will make for a smooth transition in leadership?
A
Yes. Because I am currently the assistant superintendent, I think the transition will be much smoother. We have worked very closely on all major projects. And even though we both have different responsibilities, he’s allowed me to be very involved in big projects and initiatives in our district for the two years I’ve been his assistant. I understand you worked with Dr. Blair before in another school system?
Q A
We worked together for a short amount of time when he was superintendent in Cullman and I was there teaching special education, and then he came to Vestavia. I stayed in Cullman and then changed systems to Homewood and then went back to Cullman for several years. My husband (Mike) had been commuting to Homewood for several years, and we were about to be empty-nesters and, for family reasons, decided to stop the commute. So I decided to find a job here, and that’s how I ended up in Vestavia Hills. What are your goals as superintendent? As far as goals are concerned, I have to provide an assurance that we’re going to continue on a path of
Q A
excellence that’s already been established in this district. I understand that’s a primary responsibility of mine. I also have to ensure that I’m meeting the needs of the students in the community. One of my goals, obviously, is to bring people together to create a vision of who we are, where we’re going, what we’re going to be doing, what we want to be doing in the future and then ensuring that all programs and educators are meeting the needs of each and every student, and then maintaining the high level of accountability expected from the superintendent of this district. Vestavia Hills is already one of the best school systems in the state. How do you improve upon such a high standard?
Q A
When you’re a high-performing school system, you have to dig deep to identify areas of growth. Identifying those areas can be a challenge in and of itself, but we’ve been able to do that and continue our high performance. We have just finished our districtwide accreditation process, and we’re still awaiting our final report. But out of that, you develop action plans to respond to the outcome of that visit. Once you have that information, there’s a time you can get back to the development and strengthening of your strategic plan, and that is where we are in this district. Our original strategic plan was developed years
ago, so it’s time for us to bring the community back together to reestablish where we are and what we want to do. What are some challenges you see for your school system?
Q A
O bviously, with state-level changes in standards, you have to bring along changes in methods of teaching strategies, assessment of students, etc., and you have to realign what you are doing in the area of curriculum. So those are some of the challenges we will be facing. However, through our strategic planning process, we have a forum for identifying and developing an action plan for that. When you began your journey in education, was your
Q
goal to become a superintendent?
A
I have to say that I did not aspire to be the superintendent of a school system. I have always been very comfortable in school-level leadership, being involved closely with students and teachers and parents. Only when I came to Vestavia and opportunities started to open up for district-level leadership did it even occur to me this might be an area of interest. But I’ve learned along the way that I enjoy being able to have a broader influence in what is happening on behalf of students and the learning that they’re engaged in. I am invested in the work we have been doing in this school district and want to see our standard of excellence move to the next level.
B6 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
School House VHHS students earn Grocers Foundation scholarships Vestavia students Maxwell Crawford, Emily Crawford and Emily Trucks received scholarships from the Alabama Grocers Education Foundation (AGEF) recently. The foundation awarded $59,250 in scholarships to employees or children of employees from Alabama Grocers
Association (AGA) member companies for the 2014-2015 academic year. The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation recognizes and aids students whose parents’ places of employment or their own part-time employers are members of the Alabama Grocers Association.
Emily Trucks
VHHS students participate in Alabama Governor’s School
Maxwell Crawford
LPMS cheerleaders take top honors at nationals The eighth grade cheerleaders from Liberty Park Middle School recently won two firstplace titles in a national cheerleading camp. The team took home the first-place trophies in the Extreme Dance and Cheer categories while participating in the 2014 UCA Cheerleading
Students from Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills: Andrea Zhang, Kathryn Jason, Graham Llivina, George Keller IV and Caroline Boone. Photo courtesy of Mary Wimberley.
Vestavia Hills High School students Kathryn Jason, Graham Llivinia and Andrea Zhan were chosen to attend Alabama Governor’s School at Samford University in June. They were among 91 outstanding rising high school seniors from 24 counties who participated in
the two-week honors program. AGS participants are nominated by their schools on the basis of academic ability, leadership qualities, creativity, community service and a written essay. -Submitted by Mary Wimberly
Emily Crawford
Camp. Additionally, three LPMS cheerleaders were selected to participate as UCA All-Americans: eighth graders Anna Crim and Anna Arrington, and seventh grader Claire Wilson. The event was a huge success for the school’s up and coming cheerleading program.
VHHS math team wins big at Mu Alpha Theta convention The VHHS math team competed at the Mu Alpha Theta National Convention in Orlando in July, and brought a high finish home with them. The team finished third out of fifty teams competing from across the
United States and Germany. Additionally, the Vestavia Hills students who participated in the precalculus division finished second overall, and students who participated in the Geometry/Algebra II division finished third overall.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • B7
Royal Automotive celebrates 40 years in Vestavia Hills By SYDNEY CROMWELL When Dave Belcher opened his first car dealership, Richard Nixon was in the midst of the Watergate scandal, Vestavia Hills High School was only four years old and the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was the top-selling vehicle. It was May 1974, and Royal Oldsmobile was the first Over the Mountain dealership. Forty years later, Royal Automotive spans 11 acres and two generations of the Belcher family. Belcher got his start selling cars when he faced a second tour in Vietnam and decided he wanted out of the military. When he moved his family to Vestavia Hills to start his own dealership, he recalls it was a “bedroom community” that was small but growing. His son Greg went to the newly renamed Pizitz Middle School and remembers new families moving into the area all the time. “It was a great time to live in Vestavia,” Greg said. “It was quiet and peaceful.” Greg spent a lot of his time at his father’s dealership as a child and was occasionally allowed to sit in his father’s lap and drive one of the cars. He continued to work at Royal through high school, and when he graduated from the University of Alabama in 1986, Greg decided he wanted to return to the family business. “It was a natural fit. It’s in my blood,” said Greg, who is now Royal
(above) Royal Automotive began as an Oldsmobile dealership in 1974. This photo shows the dealership in 1976. Photo courtesy of Royal Automotive. (left) Dave, left, and Greg Belcher stand in front of the new Buick-GMC dealership, which opened in November 2013. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Automotive’s general manager. Both Greg and his brother David now work with their father, who joked that working with “two [family members] is enough – three is too many.” The Belchers enjoy working together and have never considered another career. “I guess I got in it deep enough and [found it] rewarding enough that no, I never thought about [leaving],” Dave said. Dave said every day in the car business is different, which is why
he loves it. Over four decades, the Belchers have also gotten to watch car tastes change. They have sold nearly everything from Volvos to DeLoreans and have seen great leaps in car technology. “Today your car will talk to you in different languages. They’ll do all kinds of things,” Dave said. Over the years Royal Automotive has also taken some financial blows such as the 2008 economic downturn and General Motors’ decision to get rid of Oldsmobile and Saturn. Despite
the car market’s collapse in 2008, the Belchers managed to keep the jobs of all 138 Royal employees. “We’re proud of that,” Dave said. Royal now includes dealerships for Volvo, Volkswagen, Buick, GMC and used cars, and Dave was recently honored for 25 years as a GM dealer. Dave is proudest of the Buick dealership, which opened in November. His first sales job out of the military was at a Buick dealership. “I started with Buick, I’m going to end with Buick. Full circle,” Dave
said. As Royal has grown along with Vestavia Hills, Dave has championed “paying your civic rent” by serving on the city council and school board, as well as supporting local bands and athletic teams. It’s a way for the Belchers to give back to the community that helped their business get its start. “The relationship that we’ve had with the city of Vestavia has been a great one,” Greg said. “It’s been a great place to live all the way through.”
B8 • September 2014
Fan-o-Meter Quiz
Alabama
2. How many years have you owned season tickets? A. None B. 1-5 C. 6 or more 3. How many rooms in your house feature UAthemed décor? A. None B. 1-2 C. 3 or more 4. Do you have a pet or child named after a coach, player or other team icon?
7. How many games did you watch last season? A. 0-5 B. 6-11 C. 12 or more 8. Where were you when Auburn returned the missed field goal for a 100yard touchdown to win the 78th Iron Bowl? A. In hiding B. Watching on TV C. At the game
Part II: Trivia
5. How many UA-themed shirts are in your wardrobe?
2. Who was the first person to describe the Alabama football team as elephants coming? A. Head coach Wallace Wade B. Everett Strupper of 1-A
A. 0-2 B. 3-7 C. 8 or more
2. How many years have you owned season tickets?
5. How many Auburnthemed shirts are in your wardrobe?
A. 1943 B. 1971 C. 1957
A. None B. 1-5 C. 6 or more
4. How many SEC conference championships did coach Bear Bryant lead his team to win?
A. 0-2 B. 3-7 C. 8 or more
3. How many rooms in your house feature Auburnthemed décor?
6. How many games do you plan to attend this season?
2. Which running back broke Tommy Lorino’s 1956 record for average yards per rush in a single season?
A. 6 B. 16 C. 13
A. None B. 1-2 C. 3 or more
A. None B. 1-2 C. 3 or more
3. What nickname was Alabama football originally given by newspapers? A. “The Thin Red Line” B. “The Varsity” C. “The Crimson White”
Score Your Results
MeFdanium 16-23 points
0-15 points
24-32 points
t Ho Fan
A. Shaun Alexander B. Ryan Pflugner C. Sherman Williams
Part II: Trivia
A. No B. No, but I plan to C. Yes
1. Who set the record for most yards rushing in 1996?
A. No B. No, but I plan to C. Yes
1. How many years did you attend Auburn University?
4. Do you have a pet or child named after a coach, player or other team icon?
1. Previous to Auburn’s National Championship in 2010, what is the only other year the team earned that title?
Mild Fan
A. None B. 1-2 C. 3 or more
A. 0-2 B. 3-11 C. 12 or more
Part I: Lifestyle
the Atlanta JournalConstitution C. Zipp Newman from the Birmingham News
In Part I, give yourself 1 point for every A, 2 points for every B, and 3 points for every C. In Part II, add 2 points for every question you answer correctly. Trivia answers are printed upside down at the bottom of the quiz. Are you a mild, medium or hot fan? Email your quiz score and a photo of yourself in game day gear to katie@starnespublishing.com and we will consider running it in an upcoming issue.
A. 0-2 B. 3-11 C. 12 or more 7. How many games did you watch last season? A. 0-5 B. 6-11 C. 12 or more 8. Where were you when Auburn returned the missed field goal for a 100yard touchdown to win the 78th Iron Bowl? A. In hiding B. Watching on TV C. At the game
A. Onterio McCalebb B. Ryan Pugh C. Michael Dyer 3. The most popular legend surrounding “War Eagle” occurred at what game? A. Auburn vs. Carlisle Indian team in 1914 B. Auburn vs. Georgia in 1892 C. Auburn vs. Alabama in 1913 4. How many times has Auburn ended its football season with a perfect record? A. Seven B. Ten C. Six
Auburn Trivia Answers 2-A 3-B 4-A
1. How many years did you attend the University of Alabama?
6. How many games do you plan to attend this season?
Auburn
1-C
Part I: Lifestyle
Vestavia Voice
Alabama Trivia Answers 2-B 3-A 4-C
VestaviaVoice.com
Are you a football fanatic? Residents took our quiz to find out
September 2014 • B9
Hot Alabama fan
Hot Auburn fan
Medium Auburn Fan
Medium Alabama fan
Stuart Curry
Jackie Sargent
Alison Barefield
Drew Stevens
Quiz score:
27
Quiz score:
27
Quiz score:
22
Quiz score:
21
Birth (both parents are Bama grads and fans)
From birth!
When I was about 4 or 5 and saw how excited and happy my dad was when we watched games together.
1992 season
Drive to T-town early and tailgate for hours before kickoff, ....
Stopping in Alexander City to buy toilet paper for rolling Toomer’s Corner.
Wearing my “Tiger Tail” that goes on car trunks tied on the back of my pants.
Actually, a football season ritual of hanging the University of Alabama flag outside the house
Yellowhammers from Gallette’s
Tiger Walk and rolling Toomer’s Corner
Rolling the trees
victory cigars
Buffalo Phil’s
Momma Goldberg’s Deli
Mama G’s
Best tailgating spot
The Quad
Outside the student center.
As long as I’m in Auburn, I’m happy.
Anywhere on the quad
Most anticipated game of this season
LSU, UT and AU games (in that order)
Iron Bowl
The only game of the season— a.k.a. the Iron Bowl!
Tennessee
My knowledge of the Alabama players from any year, and the amount of games attended
Naming your child after a coach, or mascot, which I did NOT do!
Being classy, even after defeat.
I think rabid is a poor adjective. I would maybe go with passionate.
Being at The Swamp in 1999 and seeing us win.
Chris Davis running 109 years at the Iron Bowl to score the winning touchdown in 2013!
Two words: CHRIS. DAVIS
The Strip vs. Miami or the touchdown against LSU in 2012 by TJ Yeldon.
Moment I became a fan Game day ritual Favorite tradition Favorite restaurant
Strongest sign of being a rabid fan Favorite football moment of all time
B10 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Sports Rebels with a cause
Student selected for national lacrosse tournament Tate Czeschin, a freshman at Vestavia Hills High School, was named a 2014 Brine National High School All-American lacrosse player. He represented the Southeast region at the 2014 Brine National Lacrosse Classic held in Boyds, Md. this summer. The Brine National Lacrosse Classic brings the top-ranked high school lacrosse players in the country to one venue where regional teams will compete to become the 2014 national champion. Tate is the son of Ty and Nikki Czeschin. -Submitted by Nikki Czeschin Tate Czeschin. Photo courtesy of Nikki Czeschin.
Vestavia Youth Football starts season VHHS coach Buddy Anderson could receive the sate all-time wins record this football season. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
By DAVID KNOX The Vestavia Hills Rebels open the 2014 season with clear-cut goals. First and foremost is to win Class 7A, Region 3. No small task with Hoover in the way, but it’s easy to forget the Rebels had the Bucs all but beaten in the playoffs, leading by 18 points. Winning the region, or making the 16-team playoff field at the very least, will keep Vestavia on track to have a shot at a state championship. The Rebels were ranked No. 8 in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s preseason poll. Region-mates Hoover (No. 1) and Spain Park
(No. 4) are other top 10 teams, and Mountain Brook and Tuscaloosa County also received votes, proving that the media, at least, believe Region 3 is the toughest in the state. Then, there’s the not-so-small matter of getting coach Buddy Anderson the state all-time wins record. That could happen as soon as week two of the regular season if the Rebels can handle Homewood in the opener on Aug. 29. The Rebels travel to Oak Mountain on Sept. 5. Two games are tentatively set for radio broadcast on FM 101.1: Oak Mountain on Sept. 5 and Oxford on Sept. 26.
The Vestavia Hills Youth Football 105 lb blue team will have their first game on Sept. 2. They are coached by David Owen. For more information on the team, visit vhyf.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • B11
Rebuilding year for Rebel runners By DOUG DEMMONS With Mac Macoy now at Florida and Peyton Price running for the Crimson Tide, this is a rebuilding year for the Vestavia Hills cross country team. Macoy and Price anchored a Rebels team that won the state championship – Vestavia’s first in 6A – in 2012 and finished second in 2013. Macoy was the 2013 Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year for Alabama. With Macoy and Price graduated and plenty of wellstocked teams competing in the new Class 7A, coach Brett Huber knows winning will be tough this year. “This is probably the biggest rebuilding year we’ve had in several years,” said Huber, who starts his 16th season at Vestavia. Among those replacing Macoy, a two-time state champion, and Price on the boys team are a quartet of runners that Huber expects to step up – sophomore Alec Beers, senior Blane Crowder and juniors Charlie Sharbel and Hampton Dortch. Beers, a sophomore, is coming off an injury from last year. “He would have been one of the better freshmen last year,” Huber said. Beers said the team knows this is supposed to be a rebuilding year, but
The Vestavia girls cross country team is a tight-knit group that trains together and hangs out together off the track. Photo by Doug Demmons.
their expectations remain high. “Knowing we’re not the favorites, we’ve been training real hard,” he said. “We don’t really have that one
standout guy.” Sharbel agrees that it is a rebuilding year but said the team is ready to “step up with what our seniors did” in 2013.
“Mac and Peyton were easy points that we could all rely on,” Sharbel said. “Now we all have to step up.” They’ll have to step it up against
some traditional powers and familiar cross country rivals like Mountain Brook, Hoover, Spain Park, Oak Mountain and Hewitt-Trussville. “Definitely Mountain Brook has an incredible record. Hoover has a strong team coming back,” Huber said. “And Spain Park has a lot of girls returning. It’s just very hard to win. You have to be very deep.” The Rebels girls squad is anchored by sophomore Catherine Bunch, an all-state selection as a freshman. But the strength of the girls team, Huber said, is its unity more than any individual runner. “This team, they run together, they train together, they race together,” Huber said. “That’s what makes them special.” So special, he said, that this year’s squad “is the best girls distance group since I’ve been here.” Bunch said the Rebels girls hang together not only on the course but during their free time as well. “I think that really helps build the team up,” she said. The Rebels get their first test of the season on Aug. 30 when they travel to Rome, Ga., for the opening Clara Bowl Invitational meet at Berry College.
B12 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Vestavia Hills Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
605877
35216
2104 Montreat Lane, Unit 2104
New
$84,900
605773
35216
3013 Massey Road, Unit C
New
$96,900
606098
35216
2060 Montreat Drive, Unit D
New
$102,000
605252
35226
519 Creekview Circle
Back on Market
$174,900
605984
35243
3148 Canterbury Place
New
$259,900
606051
35216
1776 Shades View Lane
New
$285,000
605130
35216
1324 Round Hill Road
New
$314,900
605921
35243
3932 River View Drive
New
$349,900
606314
35216
2160 Vestridge Drive
New
$400,000
605809
35242
794 Provence Drive
New
$410,000
606180
35242
431 Provence Circle
New
$420,000
604365
35216
918 Chestnut St.
New
$429,000
604867
35216
2212 Jacobs Road
New
$539,900
606708
35216
1469 Panorama Drive
New
$749,900
606835
35226
613 Willow Crest Cove
New
$284,900
606431
35216
309 Vesclub Drive
New
$269,900
606417
35243
3315 Cahaba Heights Road
New
$174,900
606295
35216
3334 Shallowford Circle, Unit 17
New
$159,900
606503
35216
2501 Panorama Place
New
$325,000
606458
35216
3029 Massey Road, Unit F
New
$87,900
606779
35243
3048 Green Valley Road
New
$219,500
606342
35243
3401 Water Oak Drive
New
$495,000
606668
35242
0 Provence Drive, Unit 962
New
$400,000
Real estate listings submitted to Vestavia Voice by Vinnie Alonzo of RE/MAX Advantage South from Aug. 12. through Aug. 19. Agents and agency vary by property.
2104 Montreat Lane
2122 Jacobs Road
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • B13
Calendar Vestavia Events Sept. 5: Artists Incorporated First Friday Reception. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Artists Incorporated, 3365 Morgan Drive. Join Artists Incorporated for wine, hors d’oeuvres and live music. Call 979-8990. Sept. 5: Vestavia Hills High School Varsity Football vs. Oak Mountain. 7 p.m. Oak Mountain High School. Sept. 8: Vestavia Hills High School Junior Varsity Football vs. Oak Mountain. 7 p.m. Vestavia Hills High School. Sep. 10: Kids Korner. 9 a.m. Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church. Sep. 12-13: Market on the Mountain. Friday, 9 a.m6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m-2 p.m. Mountaintop Community Church Student Center. Sept. 15: Vestavia Hills High School Junior
Varsity Football vs. Hewitt-Trussville. 7 p.m. Vestavia Hills High School. Sept. 19: Vestavia Hills High School Varsity Football vs. Mountain Brook. 7 p.m. Vestavia Hills High School. Sept. 22: Boosterthon Kickoff Pep Rally. Cahaba Heights Elementary School. Sept. 25-26: Whale of a Sale Children’s Consignment Sale. Thursday, 5-9 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. Visit thewhaleofasale.com. Sep. 27: Urban Purpose 5K and Kids Mess Fest. 8 a.m. Shades Mountain Baptist Church. Visit urbanpurpose.org. Sept. 29: Vestavia Hills High School Junior Varsity Football vs. Clay-Chalkville. 7 p.m. Vestavia Hills High School.
City Council Sept. 8: Senior Citizen Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dogwood Room, Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Sept. 11: Planning and Zoning Commission. 6-7 p.m. Council Chambers, 513 Montgomery Highway. Call 978-0184. Sept. 16: Parks and Recreation
Board. 7-8:30 a.m. Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Call 978-0166. Sept. 18: Friends of the Library. 10-11 a.m. Community Room, Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest. Call 978-0155. Sept. 18: Board of Zoning and Adjustment. 6-7 p.m. Council Chambers, 513 Montgomery Highway. Call 978-0184.
Children enjoy the sprinkler during the Kids Mess Fest and Urban Purpose 5K at Shades Mountain Baptist Church. Photo by Heather Durham.
Chamber of Commerce Sept. 8: Senior Citizens Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dogwood Room, Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Call 978-0166. Sept. 9: Chamber Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Vestavia Country Club. Reservations must be received by 4 p.m. on Sept. 5. $18, $25 for late reservations. Call 823-5011.
Sept. 10: ROI (280) Professional Networking Meeting. 7:30-8:30 a.m. All business professionals are invited to attend a monthly networking group. Free, no RSVP required. Email betsyfrombham@gmail.com. Sept. 16: Business Development Committee Meeting. 8-9 a.m. Vestavia
Hills Chamber of Commerce. Sept. 20: E-Recycle and Shred Day. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wald Park Pool Parking Lot. Recycle electronics and shred sensitive files or documents. $10 for hard drive destruction, $7 for computer monitor destruction.
B14 • September 2014
Vestavia Voice
Calendar Library in the Forest Events Contact Eden Pfaff at epfaff@bham.lib.al.us or 978-4678 or visit vestavialibrary.org
Children
range for each time slot.
Call April Moon at 978-0158 for more information.
Sept. 5: Preschool Pals: My Little Pony Roundup. 10:30 a.m. Put on your Western wear to make pony-themed crafts. All preschoolers invited.
Mondays: Tween Scene. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Have an after-school snack, participate in a volunteer opportunity in the library, book-talk your latest favorite or create an art project and earn points toward prizes to be awarded in December. Grades 2-6. Tuesdays: Together with Twos. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Join Mrs. Courtney for a rollicking toddler time of stories, songs, finger plays and movement. Ages 18 months to 35 months. Tuesdays: Out-Of-Sight Tuesday Nights. 6:30 p.m. Every Tuesday night, we will feature a fun, family program. Wednesdays: Story Friends with Mrs. Lisa. 10:30 a.m. Join Mrs. Lisa for great stories and songs plus a surprise visitor or two. Ages 3 and up. Wednesdays: Skit-torytime. 3:30 p.m. Join Mrs. Carol for a traditional storytime for school-age kids. New stories and old favorites, along with skits where you can be the star. Kindergarten and up. Thursdays: L.I.F.T. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Special play equipment in the program room is set up so you can meet old friends or make new ones in this social play program. Come whenever you like during the program time. Thursdays: Book Babies. 9:30 a.m. (ages birth to 12 months) and 10:30 a.m. (ages 13 months to 18 months). A new program just for babies, with small classes limited to 12 each, where we begin the journey toward a life-long love of books. You must call and register each week and please note the age
Sept. 27: Lego Wars. 11 a.m.-noon. Use our extensive Lego collection to create a unique structure based on the month’s theme. Top three will receive prizes. All school age children welcome, but parental supervision required for children seven and under.
games on the Wii, Wii U and Xbox 360. Board games are also available. Snacks served. Sept. 13: Minecraft in the Forest. 1-3 p.m. Create, build and dominate in the sensational game that has taken the Internet by storm. Registration begins on Sept. 1. Call 978-3683 to register. Sept. 17: Studio 1221. 4-5:30 p.m. Make a variety of duct tape crafts and accessories while enjoying snacks.
Sept. 27: Bus Tour of Haunted Shelby County. Call the library for details. Limited space available.
Sept. 19: Retro Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. This week’s open gaming goes old school with a selection of classic console games. Snacks served.
Teens
Sept. 23: Anime Night. 4-6 p.m. Join the library for an evening of anime.
Call Daniel Tackett at 978-3683 for more information. Sept. 3: Teen Advisory Board. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Make your voice known by helping the library decide what books, music, movies and video games the Teen Department should buy. Sept. 5: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Play games on the Wii, Wii U and Xbox 360. Board games are also available. Snacks served. Sept. 9: Dystopian Movie Night. 4-6 p.m. In celebration of the Maze Runner movie release, join us for dystopian movie night.
Sept. 24: Writing group. 4-5:30 p.m. Second monthly meeting to build writing skills and receive feedback on your work. Sept. 26: Super Smash Bros. Tournament. 4-5:30 p.m. Play to win a Gamestop gift card. Snacks served.
Technology Department Classes Call Rick Moody at 978-0164 for more informationh.
Sept. 10: Writing Group. 4-5:30 p.m. The teen department is offering a writing group where teens can build writing skills and provide feedback to one another.
Sept. 2: Mac 101. 6 p.m.
Sept. 12: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Play
Sept. 4: Resume 101. 6 p.m. Learn how to properly format a job resume.
Sept. 3: Basic Computer Skills. Please call for an appointment.
Sept. 5: Downloading Free Library eBooks and Audio Books with your iPad, Kindle or Nook. Please call for an appointment. Sept. 8: Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint. 6 p.m. Sept. 9: Introduction to Microsoft Publisher. 6 p.m. Sept. 12: Microsoft Excel Part 1. 1 p.m. Beginner’s training. Sept. 12: Microsoft Excel Part 2. 4 p.m. Advance training. Sept. 16: Internet 101. 6 p.m. Sept. 19: Downloading Free Library eBooks and Audio Books with your iPad, Kindle or Nook. Please call for an appointment. Sept. 23: Microsoft Word. 5:30 p.m. Sept. 25: Windows 8. 5 p.m. Learn your way around the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system. Sept. 26: Downloading Free Library eBooks and Audio Books with your iPad, Kindle or Nook. Please call for an appointment. Sept. 29: Facebook 101. 6 p.m. Sept. 30: Basic Computer Skills. Please call for an appointment.
Fibromyalgia
Holding You Back? ✔ ✔
Right now, doctors at Achieve Clinical Research in Birmingham
Take the Next Step To learn more, and to see if you might qualify, please call (205) 757-8208 or visit www.AchieveClinical.com
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2014 • B15
Calendar Library Events
Area Events
(continued)
Adults
Call Terri Leslie at 978-4678 for more information. Sept. 4: OLLI Presents: How to Buy a Light Bulb. 1:30-3 p.m. Robert Kolar will discuss the types of lamps and bulbs available and how to make the best choice. Sept. 5: NeedleWorks. 1-2 p.m. Love to knit, cross-stitch or crochet? All levels of expertise are welcome. Sept. 9: Literary Lunch Bunch Book Group. Noon-1 p.m. Discussing The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. Bring your own lunch. Drinks and dessert supplied. Sept. 11: Taziki’s at Liberty Park Book Group. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Discussing Defending Jacob by William Landay. Sept. 15: National Medicare Week: All About Medicare. 2-4 p.m. Learn more about the changes and deadlines in Medicare and ask questions to healthcare experts. Free. Sept. 18: OLLI Presents: The Human Body Through the Eyes of a Medical Illustrator. 1:30-3 p.m. Illustrator Floyd Hosmer will share his images, offering a better understanding of the mysterious world we all share beneath our skins. Sept. 25: Friend of the Library: Back to School with Dolores Hydock. 10:3011:30 a.m. Dolores Hydock will revisit the very first day of school and heading back to a bignumber high school reunion.
Sept. 1: 23rd Annual Labor Day Celebration and Moon Pie Eatin’ Contest. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. $3 for adults, $2 for seniors age 62 and older, $1 for children. Call 477-5711. Sept. 4: Birmingham Art Crawl. 5-9 p.m. Historic Loft District, 2300 1st Ave. N. A monthly event showcasing Birmingham’s deep and energetic pool of creative talent. Free. Visit birminghamartcrawl.com. Sept. 5-6. Miss Vulcan 1939. 7:30 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum. A spoof on the iconic statue’s one and only beauty pageant. $30 for adults, $10 for children, $75 VIP tickets. Visit redmountaintheatre.org. Sept. 6: Ross Bridge 8K and Health Expo. 8-10 a.m. 2101 Grand Ave. Race begins at Ross Bridge Village Center and runs through the Ross Bridge neighborhoods. Visit alabamateenchallenge.org. Sept. 7: Birmingham Boys Choir Collaborative Concert. 4 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. The 70 Concert Choristers will welcome the Mexican dance troupe Ballet Folklorico Corazon Azteca. $10. Buy tickets at the door or call 767-9219. Sept. 13: Monkey C Monkey Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. 8 a.m. Homewood Central Park. Visit campsam.org. Sept. 13: ZooGala. 7-11 p.m. The Birmingham Zoo. Cocktails, dinner and dancing in support of the Birmingham Zoo. Visit birminghamzoo.com.
Sept. 16: Delta Spirit with EDJ. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. WorkPlay. Ages 18 and up. $15. Call 879-4773. Sept. 18-20: Saint George’s 33rd Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. Dine-in/takeout hours: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Drivethrough hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 425 16th Ave. S. Free admission, live entertainment and drivethrough. Visit saintgeorgeonline.org. Sept. 18: Community Bullying Forum. 6-7:30 p.m. Orlean Bullard Beeson Hall, Samford University. A panel of experts will inform parents, caregivers and the community about Alabama’s reducing incidences of bullying and harassment. Free, limited seating. Visit uwca.org/ bullyforum. Sept. 19-21: Alabama Orchid Society’s 30th Annual Show and Sale. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Free. Visit bbgardens.org. Sept. 20: Paws for the Cause 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. Veterans Park. Visit theanimalleagueofbirmingham.com. Sept. 21: Watercolor Society of Alabama Annual Members’ Showcase Award Ceremony and Opening Reception. 2:30-4 p.m. Birmingham Public Library. Between 55 and 60 watercolor artworks will be displayed through Oct. 30. Free. Visit watercolorsocietyofal.org. Sept. 25: Fish On! Reeling in Support for Kids. 6-10 p.m. B&A Warehouse. Cocktail dinner, silent and live auction to benefit On River
Time, an organization to help children who have been victims of abuse and neglect. $75 for individual tickets, $2,000 for a table of 10. Visit onrivertime.org. Sept. 25-27: Greek Festival. 10:30 a.m.10 p.m. Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Visit bhamgreekfestival.com. Sept. 27: Boulevard Blast 5K. 7:30 a.m. Across from Norwood Elementary, 3301 Norwood Blvd. Communitywide fitness event designed to raise money for neighborhood revitalization. Adults $25 before the race, $30 on race day. Free for children 5 and under. Visit raceplanner.com. Sept. 27: Fifth Annual Head Over Teal 5K. 8 a.m.-noon. 601 Preserve Way, Hoover. 5K, 1-mile fun run and family fun day. Proceeds benefit the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Visit thinkoflaura.org. Sept. 27: Whistle Stop Festival. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 1912 1st Ave. S., Irondale. Food, crafts, music and other activities. Free. Visit irondalewhistlestopfestival.com or call 297-9897. Sept. 27: Crestline Rocks. Noon-10 p.m. Crestline Village. All-day village-wide event includes live music from local bands in the field across from the Emmet O’Neal Library. Kids can play on fire trucks and other city vehicles in the parking lot from 3-5 p.m. Funds will benefit PreSchool Partners. $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Visit crestlinerocks.com. Sept. 28: Symphony 30 Picnic. 5 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. $75 for a family meal, $25 for an individual meal. Visit bbgardens. org.
Start the year off right!
Reading • Math • Writing • Chemistry • Study Skills SAT/ACT Prep • Algebra I&II • Geometry • Calculus
Inverness
Vestavia Hills
5291 Valleydale Road
3106 Cahaba Hts Plaza
968-5151 (near Starbucks)
TutoringClub.com
981-7155
(1/2 mile from 280)