Vestavia voice vol 1 iss 12 april 2014 by Starnes Media

VestaviaVoice.com

April 2014

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Volume 1 | Issue 12 | April 2014

An elegant entrance

Renew your tag in town By KATIE TURPEN Bo Seagrist, Vestavia Hills business license and revenue officer, fully understands the experience of renewing a car tag at the Jefferson County Courthouse. “Last year, I actually got up at 4:30 in the morning,” Seagrist said. “I waited in line for about three and a half hours. I understand people’s pain.” The City is hoping to make this process a little smoother. Beginning April 1, Vestavia Hills residents will be able to renew their vehicle tags online or in

The Vestavia Hills Belles will be presented at this month’s Dogwood Festival. Read more in this issue.

Community page 15

Celebrate life *Not an actual vehicle registration. Image by Keith McCoy.

See REGISTRATION | page 25

Reminders fade in Cahaba Heights The VHHS Relay for Life has been named a Top Five Youth Event in the country. Read more about this year’s festivities inside.

Community page 16

Spring Home Guide

Special section page 18

INSIDE City ..................... 5 Business ............ 7 Food .................. 10 Community .......15

School House ...21 Sports ............... 23 Calendar ........... 26

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Few signs remain of 2011 tornado

By SYDNEY CROMWELL Chris Callies could hear the unmistakable roar of an approaching tornado. Instantly, his emergency response training kicked in, and he hurried his wife and 3-year-old daughter to a safe place. It was the morning of April 27, 2011, and from underneath a pool table, Callies and his family watched an EF-2 tornado slice an eight-mile path of wreckage across Cahaba Heights. “It felt like it was sucking the house off the ground,” Callies said. “I was watching trees fall outside the window from my safe place.” After the tornado passed, Callies found a different world outside his house. Roads were blocked by debris, houses were heavily damaged, trees were splintered or uprooted and a dangerous array of toppled power lines and exposed gas pipes covered the ground. In the six minutes the tornado was on the ground, it had made parts of Cahaba Heights almost unrecognizable. Now that three years have passed, Callies has seen a resurgence of homeowners and local businesses in the area. Through months and years of community effort, the neighborhood has been rebuilt and is thriving again. The aftermath The landscape immediately after the storm passed was bleak. Many houses had been subjected to the destructive power of

See CAHABA HEIGHTS | page 24

2011

2014

(Above) Parts of Heights Village shopping center sustained significant damage during the 2011 tornado. Photo courtesy of Keith Blanton, Vestavia Hills Department of Building Safety. (Left) Today, the Cahaba Heights shopping center is completely rebuilt and has attracted new businesses like the restaurant FoodBar. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

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About Us Photo of the Month

Please Support our Sponsors A Little Something (25) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (8) Alabama Outdoors (17) Alabama Symphony Orchestra (21) ARC Realty (7) Bedzzz Express (3) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (22) Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club (27) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (22) Bistro V (26)

Area shoppers lined up outside Collage Designer Consignment at the Vestavia City Center during PromPalooza. Photo submitted by Tracy True Dismukes.

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Editor’s Note By Rebecca Walden Historically speakI read commentary about ing, I fall into the catour school administrators egory of weather cynic. that made my heart sink. I saw moms calling out other While everyone else goes Chicken Little around me, moms for their remarks about I typically greet the threat being stuck at home again of “severe weather” with with the kids because schools were closed. To be fair, there an eye roll and a mind firmly set on following were scores of supportive through with that day’s comments about the City’s original plans. response to the emergency, On January 28, that and about neighbors helping Walden neighbors. But in defense of attitude found me stuck on 22nd Street, inching up a treacherously those who must make impossible decislick hill with an empty gas tank and a sions, and those who live with the results full bladder. I had no provisions in the of those decisions, I implore you to give car, no blankets or sturdy shoes. After each other a break. navigating down a side street and into an When Rett and I were dating, there was out of the way parking space of my own a particular moment while on a weekinvention at Five Points, I got myself to end trip to Atlanta where the manner in shelter and vowed never to be so embar- which he handled an unexpected situation made me fall in love with him a little rassingly unprepared again. In those hours, my cell phone became more. A particular aspect of the evening my lifeline. It allowed me to make sleep- outing had not gone according to plan, ing arrangements for my children (thank and I heard him calmly say, “Think Rett. you Joe and Megan Drumm!), who There is a solution to every problem.” otherwise would have spent the night With a cool head and a can-do mindset, at school. Through Facebook, all 48 of he indeed resolved the matter, and we my coworkers were able to account for were on our way in no time. each other’s whereabouts and safety. And I return to those seven little words then, in the days that followed, it became rather often. There is a solution to every a depressing reminder of how quickly we problem. can tear each other apart. Don’t like how your child’s school

Construx (19)

handled communication during a weather event? Speak with them about it, and offer alternate solutions they can consider next time. Worried about how your boss will react if you have to be away from work again because the schools are closed? Find a new job. I’ve done it, and there are no adequate words to describe what it has done for my health and that of my family. Finding the comments of stay-at-home moms off-putting because they are home with the kids unexpectedly? Help a sister out. Invite her kids over for a play date and give your fellow mama on the front lines a much needed break. Perhaps she’ll do the same for you, but even if she doesn’t, you’ve sent good karma out into the universe. There is a solution to every problem. Be the solution,

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Dan Starnes Jeff Thompson Keith McCoy Rebecca Walden Madoline Markham Katie Turpen Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Michelle Salem Haynes Nathan Pearman Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries Interns : Sydney Cromwell Rachael Headley Emily VanderMey Published by : Vestavia Voice LLC

Publisher : Executive Editor : Creative Director : Editor : Managing Editor : Staff Writer : Advertising Manager: Sales and Distribution :

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 editorial 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.

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City Mayor’s Minute

By Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza It is spring and the dogwoods are in bloom! At last, warmer weather is here. With it, the City has many exciting events and other developments to keep residents engaged with all that is happening in Vestavia Hills. I am very pleased that the school tax renewal passed in March, with 91% or 715 of the total voters, voting in favor. This will allow our school system to continue providing excellent education, along with the other achievements for which our school system is known. In other news, the City is going through a collaborative rebranding effort, along with the Chamber of Commerce, to better market the identity of the city. This goes hand in hand with our new economic development initiative. We need to put a face to the City and then showcase that face throughout the area. Right now, an initiative is underway to place signage up around the Rocky Ridge business district that will feature the new logo, designed by Travis Tatum. This will be the starting point, and we are looking for all

the City’s business districts to replicate that. Another significant initiative underway is the creation of an Action Center within the City for residential requests. If there are issues such as potholes, road paving, etc., you can access this new website portal, enter your information and then receive a reference number for request tracking purposes. This feature is scheduled to go live April 1. Lastly, our Beautification Board will be kicking off their annual Dogwood Festival this month. I hope residents will make plans to join us for both traditional and new events, including the Dogwood Luncheon and Art in the Hills.

LIFE IS SHORT. MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

11% 52%

Thank you,

18% Mayor Butch Zaragoza

UAB President Dr. Ray Watts to speak at Chamber luncheon The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce has selected UAB President Dr. Ray Watts as the speaker for the April luncheon. Birmingham native and graduate of West End High School, Watts earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at UAB in 1976. Watts completed a neurology residency, medical internship, and clinical fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, followed by a twoyear medical staff fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Before returning to UAB in 2003, he was part of a team that helped to create an internationally renowned research and clinical center for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders at Emory University in Atlanta. At UAB, Watts served as the John N. Whitaker ProDr. Ray Watts fessor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology. He played a key role in the establishment of the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center and was also was named president of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation. In 2010, Watts accepted the position of senior vice president and dean of the School of Medicine at UAB. He has been tireless in his efforts to enhance medical student training from increasing

18% RealtySouth sells more homes than the 52% next 5 competitors 11% combined. When you make good 9% decisions, you reap solid results. 5% 5%

available scholarships to supporting Equal Access Birmingham. Watts and his wife ,Nancy, who just retired as a nurse at UAB, have five children. The luncheon will be held Tuesday, April 8 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Vestavia Country Club. 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.

Source: TRENDGR APHIX, Inc. This representation is based in whole or in par t on data provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors® or its Multiple Listings Service for the given. Neither the Association nor its MLS is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or its MLS may not reflec t all real estate ac tivity in the market. (*Sales volume figures are rounded in thousands.)

LIST WITH THE BEST.

City to host health fair and 10K The city of Vestavia Hills will host a Health Fair and 10K run on Saturday, May 3 at the Vestavia Civic Center. The 10K run will start at 8 a.m. and the Health Fair will begin at 9 a.m. The Health Fair will have a variety of vendors. Those scheduled to be there are Trinity Hospital, which will offer free cholesterol checks, a hearing aid company, a crossfit gym, an insurance company and a variety of organizations dealing with senior safety, long term

care, downsizing and more. Several organizations will be offering samples of healthy food and snacks. The Vestavia Police Department will be on hand collecting out of date medications to properly dispose of them. The Vestavia Fire Department will put on the 10K run and proceeds will benefit the Children’s Hospital Burn Center. The run will start and end at the Vestavia Civic Center. -Submitted by Scott Ferrell RealtySouth Market Share-VillageLivingHALF.indd 1

3/12/14 1:32 PM

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Cahaba Heights named finalist for art grant

Library to host Casino Royale Fundraiser Get ready to place your bets at Vestavia’s favorite party. PALS (People Affecting Library Success) will present the third annual Casino Royale Fundraiser and Silent Auction at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest on Saturday, April 26 from 7-10 p.m. The event is presented by Richter Landscape, LLC. Professional dealers will engage guests in Vegas-style casino games of black jack, roulette, poker and craps, provided by Goodfellas Gaming. Silent auction items include a football autographed by Nick Saban, a beach getaway, portrait sessions, jewelry, gift certificates to area restaurants and boutiques and much more. Guests will enjoy delicious food sponsored by Klingler’s and complimentary beverages donated by International Wines and Craft Beer. Rockstar will play live music and Continental Florist will provide flowers for the event. At the end of the night, guests may cash in their chips for raffle tickets to try their luck for

Guests enjoy the Casino Royale Fundraiser at the Library in the Forest. Photo by Taneisha Young Tucker.

a variety of items. In 2013, Casino Royale raised over $11,500 for the library’s Children’s Department. Money raised by PALS funds programs for children and tweens, including Summer Reading activities, performers, storytellers, prizes, books and equipment. Many businesses and individuals have pledged their

support, including gold sponsor David Dutton, Associate Broker of ERA King Real Estate. For a full list, please visit librarypals.org. Tickets will be available in April on the PALS website. The cost per person is $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Please contact support@librarypals.org with any questions.

Cahaba Heights has many exciting developments planned for its future. Most recently, the area was announced as one of ArtPlace America’s 97 finalists for its 2014 grant consideration. In the proposed project, the arts will play a role to shape the community’s social, physical and economic futures. According to the ArtPlace America website, the proposed project would “creatively revitalize Cahaba Heights and fill a void of leadership for planning in the area of arts and cultural activities for the communities of Vestavia Hills.” ArtPlace received a total 1270 letters of inquiry. Grantees will be announced in June. ArtPlace America is a collaboration among 14 foundations, eight federal agencies and six financial institutions dedicated to strengthening the field of creative placemaking. To date, ArtPlace has invested $42.1 million in 134 projects in 80 communities of all sizes across the U.S. For more, visit artplaceamerica.org.

Council discusses sidewalks coming to Massey Road, sale of current City Hall By KATIE TURPEN During a February City Council meeting, the City authorized a design service agreement with Neel-Schaffer engineering for Massey Road improvements. “Improvements will include the addition of sidewalks and addressing problem areas on Massey Road between U.S. 31 and Columbiana Road,” City Manager Jeff

Downes said. Bicycle paths are also planned for the area, which covers a distance of approximately 0.7 miles. The multiphase ALDOT project is federally funded and will cost the City a total of $27,557.60. The design analysis is estimated to take nine months and construction could begin in less than two years. In other news, Downes announced the Winn Dixie in Cahaba Heights has

extended its lease. Downes said the store has tentatively been chosen for a $3.5 million transformational exterior and interior remodel. Also, during a March meeting, the City Council authorized an agreement for the sale of the current City Hall property at 513 Montgomery Highway to Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A will have a 90 day period of due diligence to inspect and evaluate the current property. The closing price will be

$1.5 million. “This period allows the purchaser to fully examine the site,” Downes said. Also during the meeting, Downes announced the city plans to implement a new online action center to manage complaints from residents. “If there is a particular pothole or a dead animal in the road, city employees will be able to go online and see when it was reported and when it was

resolved,” Downes said. “It will be a good way to gather data and also document the way we respond to complaints.” Other features will include a mapping tool and group request options. Downes said the software will help keep employees accountable and allow them to see if there are multiple issues occurring in certain areas. The system is currently in a trial period and will launch April 1.

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Business Spotlight lly

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Champion Latin & Ballroom

31 R oc k y

Read past Business Spotlights at VestaviaVoice.com

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2531 Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 124 994-6457 Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. championlatin.com

By SYDNEY CROMWELL Two left feet are not a problem at Champion Latin & Ballroom studio. Sterling Burroughs, the studio’s owner, has taught for 28 years and firmly believes “anyone can learn to dance.” Burroughs started his career with the Fred Astaire Dance Studio chain in 1985, eventually managing three locations in Birmingham and Montgomery. He decided to become an independent instructor in 2000 and opened Champion in 2010. Champion offers group and private lessons for children and adults in the main ballroom and Latin styles, including foxtrot, tango, cha-cha and swing. Burroughs and his fellow instructors each have at least a decade of experience in teaching and competing. “We’re the most experienced staff in the city,” Burroughs said. “As far as caliber of dance instruction is concerned, we are about as good as it gets.” Champion is also involved in the community; Burroughs volunteers his teaching skills at the Hoover Senior Center, and students perform exhibitions for fundraisers and other local events. Though the instructors and some students compete regularly, Burroughs said that most students come to him so they can dance at weddings, clubs and parties. Dancing is a popular skill, and the affordability of group lessons has kept business growing steadily for Champion. “Most people would like to be able to dance,” Burroughs said. “It’s one of those things that it’s

Sterling Burroughs owns Champion Latin & Ballroom studio, but his dog Sam has the run of the place. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

not impossible to talk people into doing.” Group lessons are held on Monday and Wednesday nights at 7:30 and 8 p.m., and a new set of dance styles is taught each month. Students can pay $10 to drop in for a single night or buy an unlimited monthly class pass. These group lessons are great for newcomers, who can learn the basics without a large investment or potential embarrassment. “Don’t hesitate. Just go,” Burroughs said. “No

The dance ﬂoor at Champion Latin & Ballroom hosts dancers of any age, style and experience. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

matter how bad you think you are, there are teachers who were that bad when they first started.” Burroughs recently added a Wednesday evening belly dancing class and hopes to expand Champion’s offerings to include yoga, Pilates and “Salsaerobics,” which blends Latin dance with exercise. He has also started weekly practice parties for his students to get more experience together. With these new options, Burroughs

believes more Vestavia residents should experience the health and mood benefits of dancing. “Everybody should dance. Period. You got any grumpy friends? Grumpy coworkers? Bring them to dance. I’m not kidding you,” Burroughs said. “When you’re going dancing, you’re not mad. You’re not grumpy. It just gives you a better outlook on life [and] it makes you feel better.”

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Now Open Tyana Alexander, LPC and Angel Jernigan, LPC have opened a counseling office in the Walker Building, 400 Vestavia Parkway, Suite 135. They are licensed counselors and are accepting appointments with adults and families. Tyana Alexander: 319-7016. tyanaalexander.com. Angel Jernigan: 538-4710. angeljernigan.com.

Relocations and Renovations Riffs Barbershop has relocated to 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 230N, from its previous location at the Colonnade. 587-3246.

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DrakeCarroll Interiors, 4213 Dolly Ridge Road, is moving to a new location in downtown Leeds. 968-8132. drakecarroll.com.

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News and Accomplishments Pit Crew Vestavia, 2498 Rocky Ridge Road, has announced new business hours. It is now open Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 593-4170. pitcrewtfs.com.

YogurtLab, 633 Montgomery Highway, is now open on Sundays from 1-8 p.m. 874-6660. visityogurtlab.com.

Andy’s Farm Market, 2489 Rocky Ridge Road, has reopened for spring and summer months. Its hours are MondaySaturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 824-0300. andysgardencenter.com.

Zagat, a national restaurant review aggregator, named The Heavenly Donut Company’s peach fritter as the doughnut to have in Alabama in its recently released “50 States, 50 Donuts” review. The store is located at 4911 Cahaba River Road, Suite 105. 536-7200. theheavenlydonutco.com.

The Blue Willow, 3930 Crosshaven Drive, is now carrying Swap Tabletop, a line featuring seven color palettes that enable you to mix and match platters, dinner plates, salad plates, bowls and mugs. The store is also offering a silhouette event on April 17; call to schedule an appointment. 968-0909. thebluewillow.com.

Tony Smith, senior vice president of investments for UBS Financial Services, 2005 Stonegate Trail, Suite 101, has been named to Barron’s magazine’s top advisor rankings in the United States for 2014. 977-7070. ubs.com.

Jerry Duncan, senior vice president of wealth management for UBS Financial Services, 2005 Stonegate Trail, Suite 101, has

been named to Barron’s magazine’s top advisor rankings in the United States for 2014. 977-7070. ubs.com. Joe Meadow of TJC Mortgage, 3168 Cahaba Heights Road, has been named to the UAB Excellence in Business Top 25 Class for 2014. Organized by the UAB Alumni Association, the class recognizes the top 25 businesses owned or operated by UAB alumni. 815-9200. tjcmortgage.com.

Hirings and Promotions ARC Realty, 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200, has hired Steve Stamp as an associate broker. 657-4570. arcrealtyco.com.

RealtySouth, 2409 Acton Road, Suite 137, has hired Jordan Soyars as a Realtor for its Over the Mountain - Acton Road office. 978-9000. realtysouth.com.

SouthStar Properties, 308 Montgomery Highway, has hired Carol Buchanan and Wu-Hsiung Wu as Realtors specializing in residential real estate. 516-6784. southstarproperties.net.

Anniversaries The Lili Pad, a children’s clothing boutique located at 3138 Heights Village, celebrated its 10th year in business in February. 298-1811. facebook.com/TheLiliPad.

Panera Bread, 700 Montgomery Highway, is celebrating its 12th year in business in April. 978-8928. panerabread.com.

Siham’s Grill and Sweets, 3160 Cahaba Heights Road, is celebrating its one-year anniversary in April. 383-5543. facebook.com/sihamsweets.

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Vestavia Voice

Food

Kale and Farro Salad By AMY JASON Every bite of this Kale and Farro salad is full of nutrition and flavor. Perfect for spring and summer, it is a great side for grilled chicken, steak or pork tenderloin. If you haven’t gotten the taste for kale, you may substitute chopped fresh spinach for some or all of the kale; it will still be delicious — and your new favorite! Boring greens, make room for the “queen of greens,” kale. Gaining in popularity, kale is a vegetable recognized for its exceptional nutrient richness, health benefits and delicious flavor. Eating a variety of natural, unprocessed vegetables can do wonders for your health, but

choosing super-nutritious kale on a regular basis may provide significant health benefits, including cancer protection and lowered cholesterol. Farro’s nutty taste and texture make it a great choice in anything from salad to soups. This ancient whole grain is an excellent source for complex carbohydrates. Additionally, farro has twice the fiber and protein of modern wheat. Different from some other whole grains, a carbohydrate in farro has been found to stimulate the immune system, lower cholesterol and help maintain blood sugar levels. Farro can be found at Whole Foods in the bulk grains and nuts bins at the far right side of the produce section.

RECIPE

Kale and Farro Salad

Makes 12 to 16 servings

pine nuts, toasted

1 cup orange juice 1 cup Craisins

3 green onions, finely chopped

4 cups thinly sliced Tuscan kale or other kale

3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

6 cups cooked farro*(from 3 cups dry farro)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup walnuts (chopped), pecans (chopped) or

1/2 cup finely shredded fresh Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper Salt and pepper Freshly grated Parmesan

In small bowl, combine Craisins and orange juice. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill two to 24 hours to plump Craisins. Drain Craisins; discard orange juice. In very large bowl stir together kale, cooked farro, plumped Craisins, nuts and green onion. Add Parmesan cheese, chives, olive oil, lemon juice and crushed red pepper; toss well to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to large serving dish. Sprinkle with

additional Parmesan. Serve chilled or at room temperature. *Cooked farro: In a medium saucepan, bring 6 cups of chicken broth to a boil, add farro; return to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 25 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed and farro is slightly chewy. Remove from heat and cool by spreading on a sheet pan. Add to salad as directed above. Extra farro may be refrigerated or frozen.

VestaviaVoice.com

WHO’S WHO o f V E S TAV I A H I L L S

Best Local Personality Scott Register Scott is the host of The Morning Blend on Birmingham Mountain Radio, which broadcasts weekdays from 6-10 a.m. on 107.3 FM. Scott has been a resident of Vestavia Hills since he was 2 years old. Register said he loved growing up in the city and no matter where he goes it’s where he wants to return.

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WHO’S WHO

Vestavia Voice

o f V E S TAV I A H I L L S

Most Artistic Susie Caffey Susie is the art teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central. “Susie should be commended for her involvement with supporting the arts throughout the Vestavia community. She motivates her students and instills in them an appetite for the joy for the arts.” –VHEC Principal Marian Humphries and Assistant Principal Kellie Wigley

VestaviaVoice.com

WHO’S WHO o f V E S TAV I A H I L L S

Most Community Spirit David Miles David is the principal at Pizitz Middle School. “David Miles has spent many years in the role of administration for Vestavia Hills City Schools. He has poured much of his life into supporting the academic growth and well being of middle school students. His enthusiasm and love for students is evident in everything he does.”–VHEC Principal Marian Humphries and Assistant Principal Kellie Wigley

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WHO’S WHO o f V E S TAV I A H I L L S

Most Social Daisy James Daisy works as a library assistant at Vestavia Hills Elementary East. “Daisy truly has never met a stranger. She shows such kindness to everyone she meets and is full of warmth, compassion and friendliness. She remembers everyone’s name and always goes out of her way to speak to others.” -Catherine Hogewood

YOU’RE THINKING SPRING CLEAN.

We think that AT EVERY CLEAN.

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Referred for a reason.

April 2014 • 15

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Community Where the Dogwoods bloom City prepares for 2014 Dogwood Festival

By REBECCA WALDEN The flowering dogwood is a beloved and longtime symbol of Vestavia Hills’ storied past. In 1964 it became the icon of one of the City’s richest traditions, the annual Dogwood Festival, known until the late 1990s as “Alabama’s Oldest Dogwood Festival and Trail.” According to Vestavia Hills Beautification Board member Casey O’Dell, the City ceased use of the tagline following a severe weather event that destroyed many of the trees along the trail’s landscape. In recent years, much more than the tagline has changed. While the festival still includes several of its hallmark events — the Belle presentation, luncheon and yard judging — the Beautification Board is also working hard to introduce new traditions. This year, that includes a highly touted art show, aptly named Art in the Hills. Art in the Hills is the brainchild of lifelong resident Ashley Lowe Nance, a 1990 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School and a former Vestavia Belle herself. “I dabble in art,” said Nance. “I like to pretend I’m an artist. Organizing this art show has been a wonderful task. Those who attend will be treated to an open-air art show in the portico of the Vestavia Hills City Center, along with entertainment from the

Michelle Kempworth (second from right) and friends pose at the tablescape she designed for last year’s Dogwood Festival Luncheon. Photo courtesy of vestaviabeautiful.com/Ashley Nance.

Red Mountain Theatre Company’s youth performing ensembles. It’s been an exciting project to develop.” While the long-running Dogwood Pageant is not on the docket for this year, board members said they are evaluating the possibility of bringing back a revamped version in future years. Festivities formally kick off on April 6 at 2 p.m. for the presentation

of the Vestavia Belles. The event, which will be emceed by Vestavia alumna and Fox 6 TV personality Clare Stewart Huddleston, is free and open to the public. It will take place at the Vestavia Country Club. “I was a Belle in the late 1980s, and it was just a fabulous experience,” said Nance. “It’s one of the reasons I wanted to serve on the Board. My daughter is almost 14 and

she has been staring at that dress for years now, waiting to interview for a Belle position and have the chance to wear it. It is designed to match the dress Vivienne Leigh wore in the opening scene of Gone With the Wind, and it is fabulous.” Later in the month, Vestavia Hills Spring Yard Judging will take place. Dates are still being determined; for more information, visit the

Beautification Board’s official website, vestaviabeautiful.com. “We judge every area of Vestavia, but if someone wants to make sure their house gets an extra look, they should utilize the contact information on the website,” said O’Dell. She added that areas are divided into broader sections, which keeps the yard judging competition limited to a resident’s neighborhood or specific section of town. “Winners can boast the yard sign on their property for at least two or three weeks, and then there will be a wine and cheese party for the winners, along with their families, in May,” said O’Dell, adding that winners also receive a plaque and personalized award citation. Festivities continue with the Dogwood Festival Tablescape Luncheon, co-chaired by O’Dell and Kristin Tunnell. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 17. Local and well-loved storyteller Dolores Hydock will serve as guest speaker. Tickets are $20 each, and food will be catered by Vestavia’s own Café Iz. The 2014 Dogwood Festival will conclude with the art show, taking place April 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Vestavia Hills City Center. Visit vestaviabeautiful.com or email vestaviahillsdogwoodfestival@gmail. com.

16 • April 2014

Celebrating life

Vestavia Voice

VHHS Relay for Life one of top youth events in country

By KATIE TURPEN According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year. Local students are working tirelessly to change that statistic. Relay for Life Vestavia Hills, a youthled fundraising event, was recently named a Top Five Youth Event in the country. Vestavia Hills’ event is ranked fourth out of 100 events. In 2013, Vestavia Hills High School and Mountain Brook High School raised a combined total of $468,000 for the American Cancer Society. “This year, the students hope to raise over $220,000 for the fight against cancer,” said Kristin Berney, community events specialist for the American Cancer Society. “The event is family-friendly with tons of activities, food and music for everyone to enjoy.” The event’s main organizers are Youth Leadership Vestavia Hills (YLVH). The group was started by a small group of adults who were a part of Leadership Vestavia Hills in 2005. In 2008-09, the high school started a Leadership class and the project continued to expand from there. In addition to Relay for Life, the group also participates in freshman mentoring, sophomore studies, Rebel connection, new student committee and Bridges, an anti-bullying program. Students begin applying for the program at the end of their freshman year and are required to attend a training retreat during the summer. For more on Relay for Life, visit relayforlife.org. For more on Vestavia Hills Youth Leadership, visit vestavialeadership.org.

Vestavia Hills Relay for Life Saturday, April 5 3-11 p.m. Vestavia Hills High School 3 p.m.-Opening Ceremony This ceremony brings everyone together in a high-energy kickoff. 7 p.m.- Survivor’s Lap During the Survivors Lap, upbeat music plays as all cancer survivors at the event take the first lap around the track cheered on by the other participants who line the track, celebrating their victory over cancer. 7:15 p.m.-Caregiver’s Lap During the Caregiver’s Lap, anyone who ever cared for someone with cancer walks a lap so they can be honored for their support. 9 p.m.- Luminaria Ceremony As the sun sets, luminaria lining the track light up the night. Relay For Life participants, survivors and caregivers then gather to remember loved ones lost to cancer and to honor those whose fight continues. 9:30 p.m.- Fight Back Ceremony This ceremony symbolizes the emotional commitment in the fight against cancer.

Students celebrate at the Purple People Run, an event leading up to Relay for Life at Vestavia Hills High School. Photo courtesy of Chandler Cahoon.

11 p.m.- Closing Ceremony This ceremony is a time to remember the lives of those lost and to celebrate the commitment to fight back against this disease over the next year.

April 2014 • 17

VestaviaVoice.com

Scouts earn Eagle rank Wills Dunham

Wills Dunham recently earned the highest honor that can be awarded to anyone in scouting – the rank of Eagle. Photo courtesy of Kim Dunham.

Wills Craven Dunham earned the rank of Eagle Scout on Dec. 12, 2013. He is a member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church Boy Scout Troop 83. Dunham began scouting in the first grade as a Tiger Cub in Cub Scout Pack 352 at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church where he earned the Arrow of Light Award, the Cub Scout’s highest honor. Dunham crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 83 at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in February of 2009. As a member of the Wolf Patrol of Troop 83, Dunham served as Patrol Leader, Historian and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 83 under Scoutmaster Jim Henry. Dunham earned 35 merit badges

and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scout Honor Society. Dunham also earned the Triple Crown Award by backpacking over 75 miles at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, canoeing over 100 miles at Northern Tier in Minnesota and Canada, and participating in Keys Adventure at Sea Base in the Florida Keys. For Dunham’s Eagle Scout project, he organized the design, build and installation of a 22 foot pedestrian bridge crossing the creek on the trail between the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest and Vestavia Hills Elementary Central. Dunham asked his Uncle, local architect Edward Bailey, to design the bridge. He then pitched his idea to the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Board of Directors where it was unanimously approved. The project was completed on May 24, 2013. The project was funded by donations from family and friends totaling over $2,700 and more than 400 volunteer hours were contributed by family, friends and Scouts. Dunham is a sophomore at Vestavia Hills High School where he is a member of the VHHS cross country and track teams, the German Honor Society and the Habitat for Humanity Club. He is also an Explorer with the Vestavia Hills Fire Department and a member of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church.

Lars Olsson

VHHS junior Lars Olsson recently earned the rank of Eagle, the highest honor awarded in scouting. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Olsson.

Lars Olsson of Vestavia Hills has achieved the Eagle Scout Rank, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. He is a member of Troop 76 at Liberty Crossings United Methodist Church, under the leadership of Chris Morhard. For his Eagle Scout project, Olsson along with other scout members of his troop and friends built six benches and installed them on the prayer trail at Liberty Crossings Church. As a Boy Scout, Olsson held various leadership positions, including quartermaster. He earned 24 merit badges and is a member of The Order of the Arrow. Olsson is a junior at Vestavia Hills High School and is the son of Cynthia and Stefan Olsson.

Bargains return at this year’s JLB Carousel Birmingham’s largest garage sale is scheduled for April 26 and 27. The Junior League of Birmingham’s Bargain Carousel will be held in the former JCPenney location at Century Plaza Mall, 7580 Crestwood Boulevard. There will be more than 100,000 items for sale, including adult clothing, appliances, art, books, music, children’s clothing, electronics, furniture, heirloom items, holiday decorations, home décor, infant furniture and accessories, kitchen items, lighting, linens, office equipment and furniture, outdoors and sporting goods, rugs and toys. Proceeds support community projects with the Junior League’s partner agencies. “I always uncover one or two treasures for my home,” said Ryan Graham of Vestavia Hills.

“I especially love all of the gently used clothing items I discover for my two boys.” The weekend kicks off with a Bargain Bash on Thursday, April 24. For $40 a ticket, VIP admission gets you in the door at 6 p.m. for early bird shopping privileges (double the listed prices), and general admission (7 p.m.-10 p.m.) is $30 a ticket. This year tickets will be presold on Friday, April 25 from 3-7 p.m., when shoppers may purchase up to four tickets at $10 each to the Saturday sale. Bargain Carousel will run Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ($10 tickets for 8-10 a.m. or $5 tickets from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. with free admission and half-price merchandise. For more, call 879-9861, visit bargaincarousel.net, or like the event on Facebook.

Wald Park identified as fundraising program recipient Wald Park has been selected for “Heart Your Park,” a program introduced as part of Macy’s “Secret Garden” campaign, which aims to raise awareness and funds for local parks across the country. In partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Macy’s stores across the country have each selected a local park or green space in their community to support through the program. Donations will go

toward making improvements, such as maintaining trails, playgrounds and ball fields. “We are thrilled to partner with Macy’s and NRPA for ‘Heart Your Park’ this spring,” said Superintendent Jason Burnett. For more on “Secret Garden,” visit macys.com/secretgarden. For a full list of the parks benefiting from Macy’s “Heart Your Park,” visit macys.com/parks. -Submitted by Jason Burnett

18 • April 2014

Spring Home Guide

Vestavia Voice

How to recreate a kitchen or bathroom By SYDNEY CROMWELL Case Remodeling has been a part of Vestavia Hills for nearly 10 years. Designer Randi Kierce described the firm as a “design and build” company, which means Case handles design, contracting and construction. “We build from start to finish,” Kierce said. The designers at Case Remodeling frequently redesign or construct basements, attics and additions for business and residential clients, but their specialty is in kitchen and bathroom design. If your kitchen or bathroom could use a facelift, use these tips from Kierce to make sure your project is a success.

1. Make it blend. Your new

kitchen or bathroom should match the style of the rest of your house. A modern kitchen in a colonialstyle home, for example, will look mismatched and jarring.

2. Mind your budget. Remod-

eling costs can add up quickly, so Kierce recommends creating a budget before you begin and sticking to it faithfully. Keeping a budget in mind will make it easier to avoid bigger, more ambitious redesign projects that you cannot afford.

3. Lighting is key. Proper light-

ing is essential to making your new kitchen or bathroom look good. Make sure to create a balance between overall lighting fixtures and task lighting, such as recessed or track lights.

4. Function before fashion. Make

sure your new space is designed to be useful before you buy “all the pretty things” like plumbing fixtures and appliances, Kierce said. If you have a beautiful kitchen but

cannot cook in it, then the redesign was a waste of time and money.

5. Keep it classic. New design trends may look great, but they change rapidly. Kierce

suggests choosing classic kitchen or bathroom looks, which will look good for years. For more information about Case Remodeling, visit casebham.com.

VestaviaVoice.com

Spring Home Guide

April 2014 • 19

Make your yard a standout this season

Classic Gardens provides treatment to a front lawn. Photo courtesy of Classic Gardens.

By MADOLINE MARKHAM Classic Gardens has established itself as a destination for not only the supplies but also the know-how to create a picture-perfect yard. Mike and Ann Pender started the business 24 years ago when their four children were ages 6 and younger. Today, three of the four children work for the family business, which offers retail, landscaping, irrigation, night lighting and lawn care services. Classic Gardens attracts gardeners to its Center Point greenhouses for its wide variety of plants, including 20 kinds of hydrangeas, 60 azaleas and multiple varieties of maples and dogwoods. “People will pass three to four places on way to Classic Gardens,” Mike Pender said. The garden business is also a destination for its expertise in everything from azaleas to zinnias, and they provide many at-home services

in the Over the Mountain area. One key to their advice is recommending a mix of good potting soil and fertilizers for plants — but only the least amount possible, and used properly. With that planting prescription, for the past 20 years, the business has been the No. 1 Fertilome dealer in the nation. The Penders hold a tomato seminar that teaches people to grow 12-foot-tall plants in a container, and they’ve got testimonials to prove their method works. The next two seminars will be held April 12 and 26 at 11 a.m. Still, the biggest segment of their array of services is lawn care. Pender emphasizes that they prioritize providing the best quality of services with environmentally friendly practices. For instance, they can help customers determine that a bug problem that looks like scorpions is actually small ladybugs, and that the most efficient way to treat certain types of bugs requires waiting for warmer weather.

Classic Gardens teaches customers how to use the right combination of potting soil and fertilizer to grow plants like these that bear tomatoes. Photo courtesy of Classic Gardens.

When it comes to lawn maintenance, Pender recommends the following tips: 1. Use a pre-emergent herbicide. This treatment kills weeds before they germinate. Pender recommends treatment six times a year, a service that Classic Gardens offers by delivery. 2. Change your mowing patterns. If you mow in the same direction every week, you will create a “nap” in the grass that causes it to lay over. To avoid this, mow east to west one week, north to south the next and diagonal the third. 3. Mow low, slow and frequently. Mowing too fast causes grass to be torn instead of cut evenly, which can cause the grass to turn brown. Cutting grass low discourages most weeds and enables the

grass to stay as healthy as possible. Pender recommends mowing every week and said that every five days is best, depending on the weather. 4. Water infrequently. Pender recommends watering two to three times a week in the summer and less frequently when temperatures are lower. Watering less frequently encourages roots to grow deeper and hence be more drought-resistant. 5. Get your kids involved. Plant things like blackberries or blueberries, and generally encourage the next generation to enjoy working in the lawn. Classic Gardens is located at 1855 Carson Road, 35215. For more, call 854-4005 or visit classicgardens.com.

20 • April 2014

Vestavia Voice

Spring Home Guide

Operation renovation

How to bring your home up to date

By RACHAEL HEADLEY Gary Hughes has grown up in the business of furniture. His family opened Greenbrier Furniture in 1965, and Hughes eventually became the secondgeneration owner. Last year, Hughes made the decision to team up with local business owner Steve Issis and expand the business to include carpet, hardwood, tile and rugs. Together, Hughes and Issis created the total resource home store for customers interested in updating their flooring, furniture or accessories. With an observant eye and many years of experience, Hughes has seen trends come, go and even come back again. Taking notice of what customers are currently requesting and buying, Hughes has several guidelines for keeping homes up to date for 2014. 1. Add accent color. There has been a move away from patterns and color in the last five years to a very neutral palate that is very soothing. But now, as things tend to ebb and flow, Hughes is experiencing a demand for more color. Using that neutral palate as a base and choosing colors that pop, add some interest and a reflection of your own personality. Hughes said he is seeing a lot more punches of color, including chartreuse, plum, French blue, pink, orange, lime, teal and aqua. 2. Watch women’s fashion. You’ll see home textiles lag about a year or two behind women’s fashion. They’ll take a nod from women’s apparel and let that flow into home textiles. 3. Refresh classics. Hughes said it is still a traditional market. Take a classic

European-style piece of furniture that is hundreds of years old but has a fresh finish on it or is painted. This way it is not a trendy style, it is not a trendy silhouette, but the finish is interesting and not too formal. 4. Reflect your lifestyle with flooring. Hughes is seeing more relaxed finished looks in the flooring. It appears for right now, people are not wanting to go back to a formal presentation in their homes.

5. Incorporate

classics into an updated setting. Classics are the clas-

sics. Customers are seeing a merge of classic furniture with a not-so-formal presentation. People will be drawn to the classic designs just as they have been for centuries.

Hughes said Issis’ attention to customer service has been a consistent draw for customers. “We throw the mold away every day to serve the customer,” Hughes said. “Steve’s favorite

line is, ‘I am not the boss. The customer is the boss.’ He says that at least three times a day.” Issis at Greenbrier is located at 1493 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills. Issis also has another furniture location in Pelham at 250 Cahaba Valley Road, and two flooring galleries, one at 2858 Pelham Parkway and the other at 2815 Greystone Boulevard. For more, visit issisandsons.com.

April 2014 • 21

VestaviaVoice.com

School House VHEE students participate in Better Basics project

thimbles

Emily Powell’s second grade class at Vestavia Hills Elementary School-East recently worked on a Better Basics project where they shopped for books to give to students who do not have access to reading materials in their homes. Photo courtesy of Sherri Blank.

Emily Powell’s second grade class at Vestavia Hills Elementary School-East recently spent several weeks doing chores at home to earn money. They then brought their money to school and shopped for books to give to students through Better Basics’ literacy programs. Better Basics is a Birmingham-based nonprofit organization that provides literacy intervention, enrichment programs and educational opportunities for elementary and middleschool students throughout Alabama. It serves students in the community with programs to help struggling readers and to provide books to children who might not have access to books

in their homes. This is the third year that Powell’s second grade students have participated in this project. “This project helps teach several lessons,” Powell said. “I try to tell the children that by giving these books to children who need them, they are helping those children reach their dreams. You never know, one day one of my students might be working alongside someone who received a book from this project.” Students raised a total of $144 to purchase books through the store that Better Basics set up in Powell’s classroom. The children were able to pick out books for $1 per book. The books given will be utilized in the

Better Basics MORE program. MORE stands for Motivators of Reading Enrichment and is a program designed to encourage fourth-grade students to read for pleasure. When a student reads a MORE program book and completes a book report, the student is then given a book to take home. For many of the students served by Better Basics, it is the first book they have ever owned. Better Basics served more than 19,000 students last year through its literacy programs. For more information about Better Basics, visit betterbasics.org or call 944-2928. -Submitted by Sherri Blank

WE’VE MOVED!

22 • April 2014

Vestavia Voice

VHHS team shows off debate skills in state competition

Students pictured are (left to right, back row) Jon Woodall, Silin Li, Stacey Reimann, Jaxon Thomley, Mary Catherine Cook and P.J. Spina (left to right, middle row) Austin Owen, Patricia Howard, Wendi Lu, Siyin Han, Mitchell Eitzen and Emma Jackson (left to right, front row) Claire Chen, Nicole Estrada, Andrea Lin, Kelly Chen, Emmy Ye and Aditi Prasad. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Cook.

After months of preparation and one practice competition within the district, the Vestavia Hills High School team showed off their debate skills in the state competition for “We the People”, a mock congressional hearing competition, locally sponsored by the Alabama Center for Law and Civic Education and hosted by Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. This year’s 18-member team, composed entirely of senior students from Vestavia Hills High School, impressed the judges with their carefully prepared opening statement. Following opening statements, students were peppered with questions from the judging team, comprised of educators, judges, alumni participants in the program and attorneys from across the state. The team is sub-divided into six teams of three students each, who prepare to answer questions regarding a particular article

of the Constitution. The Vestavia Hills High School “We the People” program is often referred to as a dynasty, since they typically win state competitions year after year. Team sponsors Maddox and Schaefer are a large part of the reason for that reputation, along with the school’s inclusion of the program in their advanced curriculum. Last year, the team placed fourth in the nation, an honor that this year’s team hopes to improve upon. Preliminary competitions will be held at George Mason University, followed by Top Ten competitions in the senate hearing rooms on Capitol Hill. The team is currently raising money, through corporate and individual sponsorships, to fund their travel to national competitions in late April. To help the team fund their $25,000 travel and competition expense, please contact sponsor Amy Maddox at maddoxav@vestavia.k12.al.us.

Children’s author visits VHEW Children’s author Susan Stevens Crummel visited Vestavia Hills Elementary-West on Jan. 23, bringing with her plenty of fun and wonderful insight into her books and her work. The former educator and award-winning author of 17 books delighted students at VHEW as each grade spent time with her and learned about writing. Many students had the opportunity to act out Crummel’s book, The Little Red Pen. Props were provided which made for lots of laughs. VHEW’s PTO provided lunch for Crummel and a small group of teachers, who were able to speak with the author, learning more about her work and how she develops book ideas. Crummel works with her sister, co-author, and illustrator Janet Stevens. Their award-winning books include Help Me, Mr. Mutt!, And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon and The Great Fuzz Frenzy.

Special guest and author Susan Stevens Crummel recently spoke to students at Vestavia Hills ElementaryWest. Photo courtesy of Alice Elmore.

VHHS students named Presidential Scholars Twelve Vestavia Hills High School students were recently named as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. They are Anna Parker, Mary Cook, Ruth Dismukes, Siyin Han, Silin Li, Wendi Lu, Ziqi Wang, Sophie Wu, Austin Owen, Jimmy Liu, Andrew Lin and Emma Jackson. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the

program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. Each year, up to 141 students are named as U.S. Presidential Scholars. Around 3,000 candidates are identified for the academic component of the program, based on having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or ACT. All scholars are honored for their accomplishments during the National Recognition Program held in June in Washington, D.C.

April 2014 • 23

VestaviaVoice.com

Sports Vestavia’s Cusimano and Visintainer sign scholarships

Pizitz athletes compete in indoor track state championship

Chris Cusimano and Price Visintainer recently signed baseball scholarships, respectively with Central Alabama Community College and Shelton State. Photo courtesy of Patrick M. Visintainer.

Pizitz Middle School hurdler Maggie Dazzio (in blue) won second place in the 60 meter hurdles at the Alabama Middle School Indoor Track and Field championships.

The start of high school baseball season is right around the corner and Vestavia Hill’s baseball program led by Coach Tommy Walker is off to a good start with two preseason signees. Chris Cusimano signs with Central Alabama Community College. Chris is a senior, standout outfielder for Vestavia Hills. He is a two-year Varsity starter and will provide great leadership for the Rebels this spring.

The first state championship for Middle School Indoor Track and Field was held on Jan. 23 at the Birmingham Crossplex. The event was the first for Alabama and as well for the nation. The Pizitz boys track and field team won the state championship with the Pizitz Girl’s team placing seventh in the state. Individual State medalists were: Sean Elmore, State Champion in the 400 meter run, Maggie Dazzio, second in the 60 meter hurdles,

Price Visintainer signs with Shelton State Community College. Price is a standout infielder/ short stop for the Rebels. He is also a two-year Varsity starter and will provide strong leadership in the infield this season. Both Price and Christopher are looking forward to a successful baseball season for the Rebels as they prepare for their college careers at their respective schools.

James Sweeney, second in the 800 meter and 1600 meter run, Will Hoffman, second in the high and long jump, Tyric Toodle, second in shot put, Chance Claborn, third in the high jump. The Boys 4 x 200 meter relay team placed third in the state. Relay team members are Will Hoffman, Chace Claborn, Luke Denney and Sean Elmore. -Submitted by Catherine Horton

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24 • April 2014

Vestavia Voice

CAHABA HEIGHTS from page 1

flying debris, and almost no one had access to electricity or gas. Some residents were injured or trapped in their houses, but there were no working phone lines to call 911. Even if calls could be made, emergency crews couldn’t respond due to the number of fallen trees blocking the roads. Efforts to clear the roads would take hours, so many residents began their own cleanup efforts. As a member of the Vestavia Hills Community Emergency Response Team, Callies began going door to door to make sure his neighbors were uninjured and accounted for. He saw residents repairing their homes, helping neighbors remove debris and taking chainsaws to the trees blocking the road. While these communitywide efforts undoubtedly aided the initial cleanup process, they also endangered residents who did not have disaster response experience. This became tragically clear for Milton Baker, one of Callies’ neighbors and the only casualty from the tornado. Baker, a Vietnam veteran, was helping to clear debris and rescue trapped neighbors when a broken tree limb fell and struck him on the head. Nearby emergency personnel attempted CPR, but Baker was pronounced dead on the scene. “The problem is, most people want to help, but they want to help when it’s too late. And so, a lot of people got out in dangerous situations and they weren’t trained,” Callies said. “We had gas that was spewing in the neighborhood. We had power lines on the ground and we had major trees that were dangling and had sustained major damage. It just wasn’t safe.” In the retail areas of Cahaba Heights, business owners hurried to their stores to see what could be saved from the tornado damage. The Cahaba Heights Village shopping center was especially hard hit, and some stores, including Manhattan South and Serendipity Boutique, lost their entire inventory in one morning. The awning of Serendipity Boutique was smashed and the entire roof was lifted from the building and dropped back down. Samantha and Vicky Jones, the owners, had not gotten to work yet and did not even know about the tornado until they saw their store on the news.

Chris Callies and his daughter stand next to a pile of debris cleared from his neighborhood’s roads. Photo courtesy of Chris Callies.

“All of a sudden you look and our roof is missing and it’s collapsed all in front,” Samantha Jones said. “We were just in total shock.” Beginning to rebuild The ensuing weeks saw a massive cleanup and rebuilding effort by the community and official emergency management agencies. The city removed an estimated 300,000 tons of debris and spent more than $800,000 on repairs and cleanup. Electricity and gas capabilities were mostly restored within eight to 10 days, though access to cable, landline phones and Internet took about a month to be reconnected. Some sidewalks and roads, destroyed by uprooted trees or traffic from emergency management vehicles, also had to be repaired. Many residents vacated their homes, staying with family or friends as they dealt with insurance companies and returned their houses to a livable condition. Some families were able to return home within a few months, while others

took more than a year. “It was horrible. It was so depressing,” said Lisa Jackson, a Cahaba Heights resident whose home, cars and lake house were damaged that day. “None of us had ever seen anything like that. And I hope I won’t again.” Jackson and her family had to stay with friends and relatives for six weeks before they could go back to their house. “We were very fortunate to have people who would take care of us,” Jackson said. “It just reminded us what’s important.” Stores and homeowners who hadn’t been heavily affected were quick to provide help wherever they could. Churches and student groups were especially active during this time, delivering food, water and supplies to residents across the area. “I think a lot of the local businesses and local residents appreciate the community in whole for stepping up,” Callies said. The damage to area businesses varied widely.

Ray Jordan, co-owner of Flowerbuds, said his store experienced minimal damage and was only closed over the weekend, though he recalled a few days of preparing floral arrangements using the light coming through the front window. Serendipity Boutique, located only a few storefronts away from Flowerbuds, was so badly damaged that it couldn’t be reopened until August. Lost inventory and construction caused heavy financial strains, which were compounded by months of slow sales as the area recovered. One of Serendipity’s neighbor businesses, the Nesting Place, had to shut its doors for good that summer. The other businesses in Cahaba Heights Village, however, were up and running again within four months of the tornado. “We had great reception from all of our customers. They were just so happy,” Vicky Jones said about reopening Serendipity. “That’s the good thing about this community; it seems to be real close-knit and support the businesses, which is important.”

April 2014 • 25

VestaviaVoice.com Returning to normal Three years later, most signs of the damage have disappeared. Houses are rebuilt and inhabited again, and most businesses have seen their profits recover to pre-storm levels. “The small business community here in Cahaba Heights rebounded well, but it took a while,” Callies said. “For the most part, most of our residents, our small businesses, our churches have all come back.” “We [Flowerbuds] are pretty much, I think, exactly on track as to where we were before,” Jordan said. However, business owners and residents across the area sorely miss the abundant trees that were destroyed by the tornado. Though the city and some other organizations sponsored some tree plantings as part of the rebuilding, these young saplings will take years to replace the towering trees that once sheltered Cahaba Heights. “Obviously, I’ve never been able to see the Summit from my daughter’s bedroom window, but now I can,” said Callies, who would like to see another replanting effort. “I think that’s the only thing we don’t have long-term: just the trees and the forest seclusion that we all enjoyed in this community.” Callies has also seen an expansion of the Vestavia Hills rescue team group. The group had about 15 members before the tornado, but now more than 60 people attend its emergency preparedness training sessions and drills. If another devastating storm strikes Cahaba Heights, more residents will be able to safely handle cleanup and rescues. As the tornado’s damage recedes into memory, there is a widespread sense in Cahaba Heights that good things are still being brought out of a terrible tragedy. “I think the hard things you go through definitely make you more aware of people’s lives and how special and precious they are,” Vicky Jones said. “I feel like us having to go through that was God’s way of saying ‘OK, you’ve lived it, now you can be understanding and do the same for somebody else,’” added her daughter, Samantha. “Any time you can inspire somebody or give them hope or fill an immediate need — whether it be clothing, food or just a hug — you just do it. You don’t think twice about it.”

Beginning April 1, Vestavia Hills residents can renew their vehicle tags at City Hall

REGISTRATION from page 1

Residents renewing their vehicle registrations at City Hall will be directed to Bo Seagrist, Vestavia Hills business license and revenue officer. Photo by Katie Turpen.

person at City Hall. Mayor Butch Zaragoza announced that Vestavia Hills is the pilot city for this program. “Our goal is to try and shorten lines downtown and save our citizens time and effort,” Zaragoza said. Governor Bentley signed a law in February allowing any city in Jefferson County to take part in motor vehicle registration, including the issuance of license plates. Rep. Paul DeMarco sponsored the legislation. “Right now, Jefferson County has 600,000 people renewing each year and only three locations,” DeMarco said. “Add seven or eight cities and all of a sudden that becomes 10 locations.” Beginning March 11, Seagrist and other city employees underwent several days of software training in Montgomery for the tag renewal service. Ingenuity, based in Shelby County, is providing technical services for the program.

Residents will be able to renew their tags online or in person during regular business hours. Seagrist said when residents walk into City Hall, they would be directed by informative signs. To speed up the process, residents should have their previous year’s renewal receipt or the current year Jefferson County renewal notice with them. Residents will be invited directly to the Finance Office, where Seagrist hopes to make the experience convenient and pleasant for all. “Our goal is to try to create as upbeat and casual an atmosphere as possible,” Seagrist said. Zaragoza encouraged residents to utilize Jefferson County’s online renewal process at JeffCoTags.com. There will also be a mobile-friendly version of the site for residents who want to renew their tags on their smartphones. Customers can go online and pre-register

to receive a courtesy email reminder notice on their renewal month. Other than a $2 mail fee that helps cover the cost of postage, there is no convenience fee or other additional charge for renewing online. Only Vestavia Hills residents will be able to renew their vehicle tags at City Hall. The vehicle must already be registered in Alabama in the name of the current owner. Newly acquired vehicles that are being transferred to or registered to the new owner for the first time will still require going in person to the Jefferson County Courthouse. The City will be allowed to issue an annual additional fee for the service. Zaragoza said there are at least six other cities looking to participate in this program, and DeMarco indicated that Trussville is one of them. “This is a common-sense solution to a problem we all know about in Jefferson County,” DeMarco said.

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Community Calendar Vestavia Hills Events Mondays: Vulcan Voices Toastmasters. 6-7:30 p.m. Upper level, Vestavia Board of Education. For more, call 529-6200. April 2 & 9: Wednesday night Lenten series. 6 p.m. Southminster Presbyterian Church will host a Lenten Series based on Rob Bell’s Book and Film, Drops Like Stars. Please call the church office for dinner reservations at 822-1124. April 4: First Friday Reception. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Artists Incorporated. Wine, food and live music. Meet this month’s featured artists. April 5: Relay For Life. 3-11 p.m.

Vestavia Hills High School. April 6: Belle Presentation. 2 p.m. Vestavia Country Club. April 8-9: Kindergarden music program. 1:15 p.m. VHEE. April 10-11: Grease: The Musical. 7 p.m. Vestavia Hills High School. This hilarious musical is exactly what you think it is. Fun, fun and more fun. With a large cast of characters, great music and dances, and costumes and sets that will transport you to the 1950’s, it will be an absolute hit. April 12: Stop Hunger Now. 2 p.m. Southminster Presbyterian Church. Join us in Grace Hall to pack 10,000

meals to feed hungry people all over the world. April 13: Palm/Passion Service Liturgy. 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Southminster Presbyterian Church. April 14: School play. 7 p.m. Pizitz Middle School. April 17: Dogwood Luncheon. 11 a.m. Dogwood Room. Members of the board design different tablescapes for the community to enjoy and lunch will be provided by Cafe Iz. Dolores Hydock will be the featured speaker. Tickets are $20 each. Contact the luncheon coordinator, Casey at 913-3367. April 17: April Silhouette Event.

The Blue Willow, 3930 Crosshaven Drive. Five-minute sittings or side-view photos enable you to create your silhouette. $30 per person, $10 duplicates, $4 mattes and $25 for black oval frames. Call 9680909 to schedule an appointment. April 17: Maundy Thursday Service. 6 p.m. Southminster Presbyterian Church. April 19: Art in the Hills. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Vestavia Hills City Center. April 19: Easter Egg Hunt. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Southminster Presbyterian Church. Bring a basket to collect eggs in and there will be an Easter Bunny too. April 19: Easter Egg Hunt. 10-

11:30 a.m. Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. April 20: Easter Service. 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Southminster Presbyterian Church. Full Chancel Choir at both services. April 22: Fly Fishing Film Tour. 7:30 p.m. T Wayne’s BBQ Smokehouse. Hosted by Deep South Outfitters. April 22-23: Third grade music program. 1:15 p.m. VHEE. April 27: Bright Sunday celebration. 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Southminster Presbyterian Church. April 28: Jazz Band concert. 7 p.m. Vestavia Hills High School.

Library in the Forest Events Contact Eden Pfaff at epfaff@bham.lib.al.us or 978-4678 or visit vestavialibrary.org

Children/Teens Mondays: Kick-start your Manic Monday. 3-4:30 p.m. Children’s Program room. Make the Library your place to get your week off to a great start with other school-age friends. Do your homework on comfy pillows, eat a snack, watch some television or play a game. Homework help will be available most weeks. Grades 1-6. Tuesdays: Together with Twos. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Storytime for children 24 months and under and a caregiver. This storytime is age-appropriate for toddlers with short stories, songs and lots of movement. Wednesdays: Story Friends.

10:30 a.m. Storytime for preschoolers 5 years and under and a caregiver. This storytime has longer stories, interspersed with songs and movement activities. Wednesdays: Skit-torytime. 3:30 p.m. A story-based program for kindergarten and up with a mixture of stories, audience participation, crafts, songs and activities. An after-school snack and short cartoon round out the end of this 45-minute program. No toddlers for this program, please. Thursdays: L.I.F.T. Every 1st and 2nd Thursday. 9:30 a.m. Come for social playtime in our Children’s Program room with our special play equipment. Stay as little or as long as you like. All preschool age children and caregivers welcome.

Thursdays: Fun and Fit in the Forest. 1st and 2nd Thursdays. 9:30 a.m. Join us for a fitness program for caregivers and their babies and preschoolers. This thirty-minute program is a fun way to teach good health habits. Fridays: Open Gaming. 4 p.m. Come to the library and enjoy awesome video games on the Wii and Xbox 360. We will also have board games to play with fellow teens. Snacks served. April 8: Juggler Ron Anglin. 6 p.m. He may not juggle chainsaws, but Ron Anglin will juggle just about everything else! A light supper will be served at 6 p.m., followed by Ron’s program at 6:30 p.m. Please call 978-0158 to register. All ages welcome.

April 17: Dorothy & Friends. 10:30 a.m. Come meet Dorothy and some of her friends as she takes you on a wonderful Oz adventure. Don’t worryno flying monkeys or wicked witches! Please call 978-0158 to register. Ages 5 & under.

Learn how container gardening and composting are ideal for cramped locations.

April 18: Easter Eggstravaganza. We will have the Easter Bunny and a 10:30 a.m. egg hunt for preschoolers and a 3:30 p.m. egg hunt for school age kids.

Adults

April 11: Rollin’ in the Hay. 6:30-7:30 p.m. These music veterans have been thrilling fans for years, opening for everyone from Greg Allman and Alabama to Widespread Panic. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and join us as we kick off our first concert of the season. Free, rain or shine.

April 3: OLLI Presents: Big Ideas for Small Spaces/Container Gardening. 1:30-2:30 p.m.

April 26: PALS presents Casino Royale Fundraiser and Silent Auction. 7-10 p.m.

April 6: Self Defense for Women. 3:30-4:30 p.m. The Vestavia Hills Police Department’s own trainers will teach the basics. Dress comfortably.

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Community Calendar City Events April 7: City Council. 5 p.m. Council Chambers. April 8: Chamber luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Vestavia Country Club. Call 8235011 or visit vestaviahills.org. April 10: Planning and Zoning Commission. 6-7 p.m. Council Chambers. Call 978-0184. April 14: Senior Citizens Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dogwood Room. Vestavia Hills Civic Center. April 15: Parks and Recreation Board. 7-8:30 a.m. Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Call 978-0166. April 17: Board of Zoning Adjustment. 6-7 p.m. Council Chambers. Call 978-0184. April 21: City Council. 5 p.m. Council Chambers.

Greater Birmingham Area Events

Feb. 22-May 18: Delacroix and the Matter of Finish. Birmingham Museum of Art. The first Eugéne Delacroix (17981863) exhibition in the United States in more than a decade features the work of the leader of the French Romantic Movement, who wasX often heralded as the “father of impressionism.” Call 254-2565 or visit artsbma.org. April 1: An Evening With C.S Lewis. 7:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. Set in the year 1963, Lewis, the now-famous British author, hosts a group of

American writers at his home just outside of Oxford. $20-30. Visit samford.edu/wrightcenter. April 5: Walk MS. 7:30 a.m. registration, 9:30 a.m. walk. Homewood Central Park. 1-, 2- or 3-mile walk; entertainment; wellness fair. Visit nationalmssociety.org or active. com. April 5: Kidney Foundation Birmingham Walk-a-Thon. 8:30 a.m. registration, 9:30 a.m. walk. Homewood High School’s Waldrop Stadium. Visit alkidney.org. April 5: Walk for Autism. 7:30 a.m. Veterans Park. There will be a resource fair and children’s activities such as face painting and arts and crafts. Snacks provided by Zoe’s Kitchen, Earthfare and NolaIce. The 5K Race to Solve the Puzzle precedes the walk. Visit walkforautismal.com. April 11-13: Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale. Friday 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Century Plaza, 7580 Crestwood Blvd. More than 100,000 plants will be available for purchase, including this year’s gold-themed signature plants. Visit bbgardens. org/springplantsale. April 19: Brookwood Celebrates. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Colonial Brookwood Village. Part of Birmingham Reads, an event that supports Better Basics’ literacy programs for at-risk students. Bring new or gently used books to donate. There will be music and entertainment. Visit

birminghamreads.com. April 21-26: Birmingham Fashion Week. Pepper Place, 2829 2nd Avenue South. Visit bhamfashionweek. com. April 25-26: Tannehill Rodeo. 6 p.m. gates, 7:30 p.m. rodeo. Trails at Tannehill, 11975 Eastern Valley Road, McCalla 35111. $10 adults, $8 children, free for ages 5 and younger. Visit tannehillrodeo.com. April 26: Food Truck Round Up. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Macy’s parking lot, Colonial Brookwood Village. Food trucks and kids’ activities. Benefits PreSchool Partners, a nonprofit program working to prepare at-risk preschool children and their parents for kindergarten in Birmingham City Schools. $20 in advance, $25 on-site. Visit preschool-partners.org or email Allene Neighbors at allene. neighbors@gmail.com. April 26: The Episcopal Place Gumbo Gala. 11 a.m. -2 p.m. Sloss Furnaces. Forty gumbo cook teams will cook and serve gumbo. Live music by Rollin’ in the Hay, children’s activities and vendors selling theme-related Alabama products. $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, free for children 12 and younger. Visit gumbogala.com. April 26: Birmingham Dragon Boat Festival. Oak Mountain State Park. Dragon boat racing involves 20 team members paddling in unison to a drummer’s beat in a long, narrow boat

decorated at the bow and stern with a dragon’s head and tail. Benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama. Visit birminghamdragonboat.com or call (813) 426-3544. April 26: Walk Me Home. 8 a.m.-noon. Veterans Park. Registration is $30, and proceeds benefit local foster parents. Contact Mike Strayer, the race director for 2014, at sslj@bellsouth.net. April 26-May 11: Decorator’s ShowHouse. MondayFriday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday evenings 6-9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays 1-5 p.m. 4021 St. Charles Drive. No infants, children younger than 8, backpacks, large tote bags or purses, umbrellas or cameras. Tickets are $20 at the door and benefit the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Lunch is served daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $13. Call 540-7171 or visit showhouse-al.com. April 26-27: Bargain Carousel. Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m. Former JCPenney, Century Plaza Mall, 7580 Crestwood Boulevard. Giant garage sale benefits community projects with the Junior League of Birmingham’s partner agencies. Call 879-9861 or visit bargaincarousel.net. April 29: Spring Fling. 5:30-7 p.m. Dixie Fish Company. Joint event with Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia, Greater Shelby County and Hoover Area chambers of commerce. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com.

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Vestavia Voice