VestaviaVoice.com
June 2013
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Volume 1 | Issue 2 | June 2013
Living on the Edge
Staying the course Mac Macoy follows in his father’s footsteps
Vestavia Hills High School celebrated Cas McWaters Day in honor of its principal’s retirement. Inside, learn more about the legacy McWaters leaves and what he has planned for his next steps in education.
School page 15
Hot wings, cool music
The Wing Ding will spice up the Vestavia Hills City Center on June 15. Find more event details inside.
Community page 13
INSIDE City ..................... 4 Food ................... 8 Business ............ 9 Community ....... 12
Faith .................. 12 School House .. 14 Sports ............... 16 Calendar ........... 18
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For more than three decades, Coy Macoy, left, was the only Vestavia Hills High School runner to be the first to finish during an AHSAA Cross Country State Championship. Last year, his son Mac became the second. Top right: Besides earning cross country titles at VHHS, both Coy and Mac earned first-place medals in the 1,600-meter track and field event, though when Coy won in the 1980s it was still called “the mile.” Photos by Jeff Thompson. Right: Coy competes in the 1981 state track and field meet. Photo courtesy Adrienne Macoy.
By JEFF THOMPSON Mac Macoy stood in the field waiting for a signal. On both sides were hundreds of other teenage runners, each deciding how to best make it across the grass and into the trees ahead of the pack. Mac thought about Payton Ballard, a senior from Mountain Brook who bested him in every race the two competed in that season. The gun sounded announcing the beginning of the 2012 Alabama Cross Country State Championships, and Mac, a junior at Vestavia Hills High, watched as Ballard took the lead. But Mac kept a steady pace through the first two miles of the course
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‘It’s special to have him do it after I did, but it’s really an honor to see the effort and work that he’s put into it.’ – Coy Macoy, on his son Mac and eventually he caught up. “So it was just me and (Ballard) going into the last 300 meters, and we were both hurting like crazy,” Mac said. “I could tell
he was burnt out.” The final section of the race, held at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Educational Center near Moulton, is shaped like a horseshoe. When Mac reached the bend neck-and-neck with his rival, Mac’s father expected the worst. “I ran around to the finish line and stuck my head out of the crowd where I could see,” Coy Macoy said. “I’m expecting to see (Ballard) in the lead, and there was Mac. “I was shocked, but I was so proud. It was pretty exciting moment.” And for good reason. Only two Vestavia Hills High School
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2 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice
About Us Photo of the Month
Please Support our Sponsors Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (5, 9) Emily Cooper shows off evidence of festive fun at the packet pickup event for the Steeple 2 Steeple Run recently held at Vestavia Baptist Church. The following day 76 runners raced from Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church to Vestavia Baptist for the annual event held by both churches.
Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (6) California Closets (11) Children’s of Alabama (17) D1 Sports (16) Defining Home (7) Greenbrier Furniture (3) Lili Pad/Gi Gi’s (6) Mobley & Sons (7)
Editor’s Note By Rebecca Walden The annual glut of he does for the sake of family Father’s Day advertising sanity? Okay, sure, cards are is upon us. I dread card an obligatory ritual, so of shopping this time of course I will get him one. year. Rows and rows Maybe on the opposite end of cards with irksome, of the aisle? Away from the insulting stereotypes that belches and pictures of inept suggest the men in our golfers, and onto the ones that lives are beer-swilling, wax soap opera sentimental? remote control-hogging Box checked. goofballs who break Better yet? While anything they try to fix sentiments are lovely, shared Walden – really? Is that the best experiences are better. Grab the card industry can do? your group, and make a memory. With In this month when we honor the all the events happening in and around Dads in our lives, I challenge you to Vestavia Hills this month, you’ve got do something different: sidestep the plenty of opportunity. card aisle, save yourself from buying For example… an overpriced piece of paper filled You could just buy your Dad the with someone else’s (usually awful and latest bestseller. Or, you could take inaccurate) words, and instead, thank him to the Library. Show him why the Dad in your own way. grandkids are so jazzed about reading In my house, there’s a guy who will at the PALS Summer Reading Kickoff wake up early to make Green Eggs and Party, happening June 2. The fun runs Ham – just because it would have been from 2 to 4 p.m., and includes Summer Dr. Seuss’s birthday. His Hanna Barbera Reading sign-up and plenty of magical impressions are spot-on – not even the merriment. I’m imagining my dad in four-legged children in our house miss face paint, holding a balloon sculpture Daddy’s Scooby Doo bedtime stories. right about now. And his paternal prowess reigns You could give him a gift certificate to supreme now that we’re in the stage … fill in the blank. Or, you could put that of “I’m not eating that.” Did you know dough towards learning a hobby you how much your kids can flip out (in a both can enjoy. Like at the “Gardening good way) over nitrates shaped like with Hydrangeas” event, happening sailboats, pirates and ponies? The man’s June 6 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the got mad hot dog prep skills, I tell you. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It’s So how will I say thanks this year for sponsored by the Alabama Hydrangea these, and the million other little things Society (Vestavia’s own Karen Mitchell
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serves as vice president). I will add here that one of the most meaningful gifts I ever received from my dad was a brown paper sack full of Canna bulbs from his backyard. I planted them along the fence in my own backyard, and I think of him each time they bloom. Our mutual green thumb makes for good memories. You could take him out to eat just anywhere. Or, you could consume the ultimate guy food at the 2nd Annual Wing Ding, happening June 17 at the Vestavia City Center and benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Alabama. It’s all about good eats for a good cause. Wear sunscreen, and, for good measure, don’t forget the Tums. You could be predictable. Or you could step completely out of character (pun intended). June 18, 19, 25, 26 and 28, Martha Haarbauer, founder of The Seasoned Performers, will lead a two-hour beginner actor workshop for seniors. Surprising him with a registration for this event could be the most unexpected best time you can have together! You get the idea. It’s all about time thoughtfully spent together. Well…that, and a little wing sauce. Happy June!
Rebecca
Meet our staff
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Publisher : Executive Editor : Creative Director : Community Editor : Managing Editor : Advertising Manager : Sales and Distribution : Contributing Writer : Interns : Published by : Contact Information: Vestavia Voice #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 dan@vestaviavoice.com
Account Executive Matthew Allen has lived in the Birmingham area since moving here in 2004 to marry his fiancée. He worked for Shelby County Newspapers, Inc., for the past eight years. He graduated from the University of Georgia and grew up in Thomaston, Ga. Among his hobbies are golfing, gardening, DIY home projects and spending time with his three-year-old son, Brady, and wife, Abby. He is active in several area Chambers of Commerce, the Hoover Rotary Club, the Hoover Beautification Board and St. Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills. He can be reached at matthew@280living.com.
Account Executive Rhonda Smith grew up in Birmingham and is a graduate of Shades Valley High School. She worked as an account executive for Birmingham Magazine for 12 years after receiving a BA in public relations from Auburn University. Rhonda has been married to Tim Smith for 10 years, and they have three boys: Wheeler (7), Hollis (5) and Wrenn (4). She resides in Vestavia Hills and is active in The Junior League of Birmingham and Briarwood Presbyterian Church. She can be reached at rhonda@280living.com.
Executive Editor Jeff Thompson is a journalism graduate of Auburn University who moved to Birmingham with his wife, Ashley, in 2012. For the past four years he served as managing editor of The Tuskegee News, where he focused on bringing public awareness to local causes. He has a dog and a cat, is bad at cooking, is worse at guitar and prefers the McDonald when he visits Mugshots. He can be reached at jeff@280living.com
Dan Starnes Jeff Thompson Keith McCoy Rebecca Walden Madoline Markham Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Keith Richardson Mollie Bartholemew Caroline Drew Will Hightower Chandler Jones Starnes Publishing LLC Please submit all articles, information and photos to: Rebecca@vestaviavoice.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
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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) 3131780 or by email.
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June 2013 • 3
4 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice
City Mayor’s Minute By Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza As we welcome the month of June, I am anticipating a new chapter in City Hall activity. We will soon name our new city manager. We interviewed four excellent candidates. The interview process was rigorous and thorough, and I know you will be as pleased with the chosen candidate as I am. I believe we can expect great things as this individual settles into his new role. In city business news, we continue to see our sales tax exceed budget projections. New home construction is up, as are business licenses. Ad valorem is down slightly, but that comes from when the county reappraised homes that sustained damage during the April 2011 tornadoes. Although these home values did experience a decrease, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Many of these homes have been remodeled or completely rebuilt; home values will rise, and this, of course, will help the city in the future. This goes hand-in-hand with other positive real estate news in the City. We are seeing the housing market turn around significantly in Vestavia Hills. Homes are beginning to sell, and those on the market are not on it for long. I know everyone is eager to learn the fate of City Hall. The effort to sell the building is ongoing, and we are working to relocate. But there are no other specifics at this time. The other major initiative at this time is the commencement of lighting work on June 1 to upgrade all athletic fields and tennis courts. The project should be
complete by the time fall sports start back in late August. In other news, we recently completed our Dogwood Festival, which was a tremendous success this year. I want to personally thank Sharon Conners and Casey O’Dell for their efforts in putting the program together. We also installed the new Vestavia Belles. I was honored to be part of their recognition ceremony, an event that was particularly meaningful as my granddaughter Madeline Zaragoza joined the group this year. I hope you will join us for our next City Council meeting on June 10 at 5 p.m. at City Hall. These meetings, held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, are open to the public and are a great way for you to get to know your City leadership and let us know what’s on your mind. Your energy is what makes this City such a coveted place to live. Let me hear from you. Sincerely,
Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza
I Love America dates set The 32nd annual I Love America Summer Celebration events are scheduled for Wednesday, July 3 and Friday, August 16 at Wald Park. In the past the events have featured swimming, bounce houses, music and a movie in the park. The celebrations are held by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce
and the Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Department. Movie titles and more event details will be released soon. Visit vestaviavoice.com and watch for our July issue for updated information. For more visit facebook.com/ ILoveAmericaSummerCelebrationSeries.
Council conducts interviews, deliberating on city manager hire
From left are Vestavia Hills city manager candidates Kevin Cowper, Jeff Downes, Christopher Miller and Greg Mims. Photos from, in order, auburnalabama.org, montgomeryal. gov, sarpc.org and gulfcoastnewstoday.com.
By JEFF THOMPSON The search for Vestavia Hills’ next city manager took another step forward in April as the City Council conducted interviews with its four finalists for the job. Interviewed were: • Jeff Daniel Downes, executive assistant to the mayor, City of Montgomery • Kevin Cowper, assistant city manager, City of Auburn • Christopher Miller, deputy executive director, South Alabama Regional Planning Commission
• Greg Mims, former city manager, City of Fairhope According to a 2012 report from al.com, Cowper took part in contract negotiation for the position in 2011. “The Council is in the process of deliberating and discussing which candidate they will select,” said Jim St. John, Vestavia Hills fire chief and interim city manager. “I’m confident that their selection will be well qualified and well received.” St. John gave no projected timeline for the Council to make a decision on which candidate, if any, will be offered the position.
Faster emergency service response one benefit of new agreement By JEFF THOMPSON In April, the Vestavia Hills and Hoover City Councils voted to enter into an Automatic Aid Agreement for fire protection. Once details are finalized, residents living near the shared border between the two cities will have the promise of immediate response from the department closest to their home or business. “‘Automatic Aid’ means the closest resources are sent to the scene of an emergency,” Vestavia Hills Fire Chief Jim St. John said. “I’ve always said the city limits of Vestavia and Hoover look like an unfinished jigsaw puzzle. Because the boundaries the two communities share are so jagged, often another city’s resources are closer to the scene of an emergency.” Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey said the area affected by the agreement surrounds the northern city limits of Hoover where Vestavia and Hoover touch. It extends from areas of Bluff Park near Alford Avenue to areas of Rocky Ridge Road. Included are businesses on Montgomery Highway and Lorna Road for approximately one mile into Hoover and one mile into Vestavia Hills. St. John said the agreement would be extremely beneficial to residents on Tyler Road, where houses across the street from one another are in different city limits. Ivey said it has been the City of Hoover’s goal over the past three years to solidify agreements with all departments that border
its city limits to enhance coverage and to allow the closest fire stations to respond to emergencies. “We have had a Mutual Aid Agreement with Vestavia for years, meaning we assisted each other if we arrived on the scene and needed assistance,” Ivey said. “Now, the agreement makes the response automatic to certain areas saving time.” With mutual aid agreements, St. John said, if a department finds itself in a situation where it arrives on scene and doesn’t have enough resources, it can call for the other department to assist. Vestavia Hills and Hoover have Mutual Aid Agreements with their neighboring cities and fire protection jurisdictions. Moving to automatic aid improves these agreements because it allows for departments to be dispatched simultaneously. Ivey said benefits to residents include faster response times, utilization of resources from other departments and more manpower on fire scenes. Vestavia Mayor Alberto Zaragoza added that the agreement has financial benefits because the cities won’t need to build additional fire stations in the affected areas. “This is big for the leadership in both communities,” St. John said. “It’s something that requires a lot of detailed work but doesn’t involve sharing of any taxes. It’s done without charge to one another. Most importantly, it allows these departments to move as rapidly as possible, which could make the difference in an emergency.”
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Meet Your City Council George Pierce, Place 4 What is the biggest issue before the council right now? Right now our top priority is finding a city manager. We’ve had interviews that were open to the public, and we’re right now in the due diligence stage with four great candidates. Five people sat in and listened to the interviews, and afterward they were impressed with the four candidates. The new city manager (expected to be named by June 1, if not prior) will be stepping into a challenging role, but will also be joining a professional staff with a common vision for the city. I’m thrilled that we’ll have an economic development director, a city planner and a city manager on board – these are three professionals working in the city that we never had before. That should make a difference. The goal is every day to work and foster our city, to recruit businesses, and to make good use of the development areas we have – and that’s not just U.S. 31. Look at Cahaba Heights. It’s an area I’m very glad we annexed, and we need to look at the opportunities for development over there. We also have opportunities with Columbiana, Rocky Ridge and elsewhere. There are a lot of opportunities; we just have to prioritize because we can’t do it all at one time. With regard to economic development, where are we seeing the most movement? What’s likely to happen in the near future? Since we now have professionally trained employees in the city all focused exclusively on their areas of expertise, we are establishing those priorities. Look at Fred Baughman. With the contacts he has, he knows whom to call, he knows the programs, and he knows the opportunities. Likewise, our city planner is looking at our city and envisioning what we should be doing in that area. We are focused now on completing the city leadership team with the right individual who can work with Baughman and Conrad Garrison to accomplish what Vestavia Hills residents deserve and expect, with regard to the city’s business landscape and amenities. On another note, we’re working on the future of City Hall. Everyone knows Chick-Fil-A is anticipating a move into the existing City Hall, and we still have property we are selling at the site of the old library. In addition, we’ve got businesses looking at land along U.S. 31 for future economic development. It’s funny, 31 has always been there, but it’s like all of a sudden people are realizing it’s there. When Verizon moved to the lower portion of U.S. 31, people realized that even though that area lies
afternoon, people said we were congesting traffic. Liberty Park, where it’s currently located, is a great place for the parade. They put a lot of planning into it, and it’s a great example of cooperation between a newer community and City Hall. We are all Vestavia residents, and we want to work with everyone. I’m glad we’re not council members by district. Sure, the way the City was designed, it does cause some unique situations, but we find a way to make it work. How can residents connect with you and make their voice heard? If you have thoughts and ideas, bring it on. We’re open. Attend City Council meetings, but if that’s not for you, take another opportunity to let me hear from you, whether it’s Facebook, emails, telephone calls, voice messages, whatever means you prefer. On the note of accessibility and a unified presence, I will share that we are considering having Council meetings outside City Hall Chambers. I want to have meetings in Cahaba Heights, in Liberty Park and elsewhere. If you’ll come to us, we’ll come to you.
in a flood plain, it’s buildable. You have a tremendous area all the way down through there. I believe that by the end of our council term, we will look back and see more results. I’m most anxious to see new construction along U.S. 31, and I think we’ll see that soon. In the course of one day, daily traffic along 31 is between 35,000 and 75,000 cars. If you are in the retail business, you want to be there. How can the City better unify itself? Everyone is proud of their communities. Being elongated like we are, there is no true center of the city anywhere. People are naturally proud of their area. The Chamber, for example, has attempted to move around I Love America Day, and they cannot draw the people. It’s natural in communities. We can’t fight that; we just have to work with the communities. The Christmas Parade is another example. In its old location, people complained that we were blocking U.S. 31. If it was on a Saturday morning, people said it was too early. If it was Saturday
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There is a lot of talk about economic development, but what are the parameters for growing it the right way? We are getting into some new territory. As we pursue development of commercial businesses on U.S. 31, we might need to look at our overlays, business districts and planning to see what the public wants in certain areas. The Brazilian Wax place is a viable business. Some will be offended by it, but obviously the owners have done the research and there is a demand for it. We’ve also heard some comments about the Gold business near Diplomat Deli. We understand the residents’ point of view about moral issues, and we are looking to see what we can do to make sure signage and related elements are tastefully done. But, we must be cognizant that we want to foster business. Will individuals always agree with the businesses? No. We have restrictions in certain areas – like Patchwork Farms – as to what kind of businesses can go in there. And we are discussing whether or not we need to reexamine some of our sign ordinances. The bottom line is this: we want to continue providing the services our citizens deserve and require, and we also want to be good stewards of the business community.
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Vestavia Voice
A towering influence
Remembering retired Fire Chief Bill Towers By MADOLINE MARKHAM Today, 71 of the 96 firefighters in Vestavia Hills are trained as paramedics. But when tragedy came in 1973, that wasn’t the case. That year, three coaches from the high school were struck and killed by a truck at the corner of Montgomery Highway and Pizitz Drive. Fire Chief Bill Towers knew that it was time for a change. Under his leadership that year, Vestavia Hills Fire Department became one of the first three cities in the state to deliver paramedic services. In partnership with Birmingham and Homewood, the department served not only its residents but also those all over the region. “Chief Towers ushered that into Vestavia Hills, but it was not a common or popular thing for fire chiefs at the time,” said current Fire Chief Jim St. John, whom Chief Towers first hired in 1988. “There was a lot of resistance with firefighters whose mantra was, ‘we’re not doctors.’” Throughout 37 years of growth, Towers, who passed away in May, was a pioneering leader, serving as fire chief for 28 years. Fire Station No. 1 on Montgomery Highway bears his name, but his legacy extends far beyond words on a building. “He was a dedicated public servant,” said Mayor Butch Zaragoza, who served as Towers’
fire marshal and then deputy chief before succeeding him as fire chief. “I think that showed in the 37 years he served. He was well known throughout the state. I learned from him to tell the truth, and it will all take place if you tell the truth. He loved this community, and he would do anything he could to help the community.” During Towers’ tenure at the department, he saw the staff of three employees grow to more than 70 and one station grow to four. By the time he retired, the once one-truck operation boasted four fire engineers, a ladder truck, a rescue truck and several pieces of reserve equipment. Following the addition of paramedic services, many suburban communities continued to look to Vestavia Hills for an example through 1980s, when Towers led the department to also be one of the first in the area to become hazardous materials responders. “Chief Towers saw the service become to the modern professional organization it is today with emergency medical response, hazardous material incident response, technical rescue, fire suppression and fire prevention,” St. John said. Towers didn’t just lead by doing; he led by empowering those beneath him. In fact, 37 of the men and women he hired still work for the department, 16 years after his retirement. “He wasn’t the only one that found
Retired Fire Chief Bill Towers
new methods and brought them back,” St. John said. “He established a culture that encouraged people to find the best practices and if they made sense for Vestavia Hills, he would adopted them.” In turn, that created leaders beneath him, many who would go on to become chiefs and senior officers in departments in surrounding areas. “He empowered the people beneath him to do their jobs and didn’t hover over them,” St. John. “He was excellent at telling you what needed
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to be done and then letting you use your sense of initiative to get it done. It creates an opportunity for people to develop their own leadership skills.” Towers’ leadership extended statewide as well. As past president of Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs, Towers hosted the summer conference for the organization in Vestavia Hills in 1980. Regardless of the position, Towers’ leadership was often far from conventional.
“He was very creative and imaginative,” St. John said, recalling how once when a new service truck was needed, Towers found an old U.S. Army truck in Fort Rucker with a bad motor and convinced the mayor to let them use the City’s garbage truck to tow it back to Vestavia, provided they were back by dark. They indeed made it back and converted the Army truck. Towers’ concerns extended beyond the station as well. According to St. John, he treated each firefighter like his own family. “He was present at weddings and births and a whole range of things that a department that size goes through,” St. John said. “He didn’t miss important events in the lives of officers because they were a part of the family that he loved.” It was Towers’ humility that stood out to Lieutenant Steve Hicks, who was hired by Towers in 1995 when he was 24 years old. “He never expected anyone to bow down to him because he held that position for that long,” Hicks said. “He went to the grave not giving himself credit for his accomplishments for all the people.” According to his obituary, Towers loved to attend reunions of “The Avondale Boys,” his closest friends from his former neighborhood in Birmingham, and he cherished his family’s vacations at their Seaside, Fla., condo. He was also actively involved in the community as a 60-year Mason, York Rite Mason, Scottish Rite Mason, and long-time member of the Zamora Shrine Temple Greeters Unit.
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VestaviaVoice.com
Meet the Mission Maidens Serving others in meaningful ways
By REBECCA WALDEN Sharon Bullock didn’t set out to shape seven-year-old minds into Christ-centered servants. In fact, had it not been for a bike accident she endured in fall 2012, the mother behind Mission Maidens might not have pursued this effort at all. Before her 40th birthday, she had goals to qualify for and run the Boston Marathon and also complete a Half Ironman Triathlon. While she did achieve both of those goals, during the Augusta Half Ironman Bullock’s bike took a nasty turn. With the aid of two fellow race participants who helped reassemble her bike, Bullock ultimately finished the race, only to deal with post-race surgery for injuries sustained during the accident. Reflecting on the entire turn of events, Bullock said she felt the Lord nudging her in another direction: specifically, to broaden those fitness goals she’d set for her 40 birthday. She started reflecting on a recent mission trip she’d taken to Africa with her 10-year-old son, Burch, and looked at her then seven-year-old daughter, Laura Grace. The idea for Mission Maidens came to life. “Laura Grace missed the Africa trip because she was too young, but that got me thinking about the many unanswered needs right here in our own community,” she said. Around that time, Bullock heard a friend of a friend, Jennifer Gray of Liberty Park, was just starting a monthly mission project for her child and their friends at Liberty Park Elementary. That gave her the gumption to email around 20 of Laura Grace’s schoolmates at Vestavia Hills Elementary East, and also several friends at West. Within a month, eight second grade girls showed up at Mount Royal Towers for the Mission Maidens’ first service project, a trick or
The Mission Maidens, led by Sharon Bullock, gather for a recent service project.
treat in reverse. “It was the day after Halloween, so it was a perfect first project for the girls,” said Bullock, describing how Laura Grace and her friends dressed up in costume and delivered Halloween candy to two floors of Mount Royal Towers residents. “With their young ages, we try to keep the activities age-appropriate – limited to tasks that seven or eight-year-old girls can do independently. And we try to keep it to a minimal time and financial commitment.” In November, Mission Maidens met at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church with red Radio Flyer wagons in tow for a neighborhood door-to-door canned food drive effort. In the course of an afternoon, the Maidens collected more than 200 cans, which they donated to the
food pantry of Urban Ministries of Birmingham. In December, the girls partnered with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. “The Humane Society has a perpetual need for rolled newspapers for the kennels,” she said. “I sent a YouTube link to the girls and their mothers, instructing them how to roll the papers, and they jumped on board.” As part of the effort, the girls also made “Adopt Me” signs for individual animals, and received a tour of the facility. For Valentine’s Day, Children’s Hospital was the beneficiary of more than 25 Love Quilts. The girls took sheets of fleece and made no-sew blankets by cutting fringe around the edges and tying knots in the fringe. While most monthly projects result in a
tangible collection or donation, some months are reserved for spiritual development. This was the case in March, when the Mission Maidens traveled to Huntsville to attend a Secret Keeper Girls retreat. Perhaps their most poignant activity to date took place recently in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing. While stuffing race packets for the second annual Steeple 2 Steeple 5K, Mission Maidens also used their creative talents to design custom get well cards for distribution at Boston Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Medical Center. “Mission Maidens has been a wonderful experience for my daughter,” said Tracey Barker, whose daughter Maddie is part of the group. “This experience has helped teach her how to put others first and the message of Christ into action. In her own words, Mission Maidens has taught her to ‘serve others and be sweet to other people even if you don’t know them.’” As for the group’s future, Bullock, a CPA, has expressed interest in formalizing Mission Maidens into a 501(c)(3), but for now, she is enjoying the experience of watching her daughter and like-minded friends. She hopes the group continues to thrive and that mission work will be instilled in these young girls so their lives will be blessed from their service to others. Prior to each outing, the girls gather, sometimes in Bullock’s home, to pray. Their favorite Bible verses (the first of which also serves as their mission statement) are John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you,” and Matthew 25:40 “… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” “We can do anything with this,” said Bullock. “The sky is the limit.”
8 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice
Food
Read past Restaurant Showcases at VestaviaVoice.com
Bistro V
City Center
Country Club
521 Montgomery Highway, Suite 113 823-1505 Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-9 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-9 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. bistro-v.com
By MADOLINE MARKHAM Jeremy Downey grew up on the bayou in Bayou La Batre, just east of Mobile Bay. His first job was unloading shrimp boats. Before that he was working with his hands in his dad’s garden. Since those days, he played football at The University of Alabama and worked in restaurants in Washington, DC and California, but lately he’s returned to his roots, both in place and in ingredient. “My creative juices flow into the world of seafood and local produce,” said the Bistro V chef and co-owner. Fried oysters, a fish of the day, and shrimp and grits are regulars on his menu, although most other dishes change every two to three weeks. “I have always loved seafood because it sustains you as you get older,” he said. “People are starting to see that it’s good for you, which is good for me because I have always loved it.” Other menu favorites are the Risotto of the Day and Short Ribs braised for three hours until they fall off the bone. Downey has Italian heritage and has worked in several Italian restaurants, so you’ll find plenty of pasta options on the menu as well. Summer months bring the return of the Farmer’s Market Salad, topped with market finds like peas and fried
Bistro V serves a risotto special like this Spring Risotto with Shrimp daily.
Bistro V chef and co-owner Jeremy Downey makes seafood and produce the base of many of his culinary creations. Photos by Madoline Markham.
country ham. Everything else on the menu comes in second place to it, Downey said. Local produce also shines in a Tomato Haystack. The dish stacks slices of juicy red with mozzarella and then drizzles them with vinaigrette and tops them with fresh basil. There is also an eggplant appetizer grilled with goat cheese, sweet pepper aioli and basil pesto and a Crispy Grit Cake baked and fried and topped with country ham, shrimp and mushroom sauté. Crab Cakes are made with fresh lump crab meat from the bayou
and are served with fried green tomatoes, a house remoulade and a light salad. For brunch on weekends, there’s also an Eggs Benedict, eggs to order, pancakes, and a bacon omelet Downey said could feed two people. Oyster Po Boys start to get popular around 10 a.m. Overall, Downey wants Bistro V to be a neighborhood restaurant — the V in the name is for Vestavia after all. “We want to get the best product we can in daily and make simple soul food that appeals to people in
Vestavia,” he said. Downey worked at City Hall Diner, the business that previously operated in the Bistro V space, for five years. Then, three years ago this month, he opened a new space with business partner Emily Tuttle. “I have been here long enough to learn the taste buds of the area,” he said. “I have thrown things at the wall and seen what sticks. At this point, I know my instinct.” Over next few months, the restaurant will expand to an adjacent area in its shopping center, which will
Banana Bread Buttermilk Waffles Southern muffin favorite meets weekend breakfast superstar
RECIPE
BANANA BREAD BUTTERMILK WAFFLES
Makes 5 waffles Total time: 45 minutes Here’s what you do Whisk these ingredients like crazy in a medium bowl: • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas • 1 cup whole buttermilk • 6 Tbsp. vegetable oil • 2 large egg yolks • 1 vanilla bean, scraped Rebecca Gordon recently stepped away from the Test Kitchen Director post at Southern Living magazine and has launched her own brand and digital lifestyle title, Buttermilk Lipstick. The name comes from a favorite ingredient for baking and cooking merged with an element of beauty. On ButtermilkLipstick.com she merges home-cooked recipes, style finds that tie back to her food background and her love of Southern college football. A Cahaba Heights native, she is married to Pizitz Middle School teacher and coach Marrow Gordon.
Whisk together these ingredients in a large bowl: • 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour • 1/2 cup cornstarch • 1 tsp. baking powder • 1/4 tsp. baking soda • 1/4 tsp. salt Beat these ingredients with a hand-held electric mixer until stiff peaks form: • 2 egg whites • 2 Tbsp. sugar
allow space for a new bar, and more indoor and outdoor seating. Downey hopes it will give Bistro V more of a bistro bar and grill feel, and he hopes to add new menu items including raw bar offerings. Like everything with the restaurant, the new space will do more than fulfill Downey’s vision; he’s also excited to share something new with the people who live around Bistro V. “I am happy to be one of the only people in Vestavia doing this sort of thing,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to feed people the food they want to eat.”
Good to know • Let the bananas hang out at room temperature until black, about two weeks. This results in the best natural banana flavor. • The bananas were soft enough to mash into a puree with a whisk. • When separating eggs, be sure none of the yolk gets into the white portion or they won’t whip to full volume. • To scrape a vanilla bean, cut down the center using a sharp paring knife and run the back of the knife down each cut side of the bean. If that freaks you out, just substitute 2 tsp. vanilla extract. • The batter will be thick-ish. • Toast pecan halves in bulk in a 350-degree oven for 8 minute. Use what you need now and freeze the remaining for other recipes down the road. • Waffles are ready when steam is no longer pouring out of the machine. • Expect the texture of these waffles to have a mildly crisp exterior and more of it’s muffin-y counterpart on the interior. If you like a super crisp outside, a little time in a warm oven will do the trick. Make it yours • Stir freshly grated orange or lemon zest into the batter. • Instead of maple syrup, serve bananas foster-style: sauté firm sliced bananas in butter with brown sugar, dark rum and ground cinnamon.
Serve Banana Bread Buttermilk Waffles with maple syrup, melted butter and toasted pecans.
Have a 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans on the ready. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture just until blended; fold in egg white mixture. Portion about 2/3 cup batter onto a hot lightly greased waffle iron, gently spread to the edges with a small off-set spatula. Sprinkle with some pecans and close the lid. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until steam subsides. Remove from iron and keep warm in a 200 degree oven on a rack over a sheet pan. Repeat with remaining batter and pecans. (Waffles will be very dark because of the sugar from the ripe bananas.) Serve with maple syrup, melted butter and additional toasted pecans.
What makes it possible • Nielsen-Massey: The Tahitian vanilla bean was soft, pliable and easy to scrape, and it added bold vanilla flavor to the waffles. You’ll find two per jar. • Oster: I used an 8-inch Oster Belgian waffle maker and cooked them on the MAX setting. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for additional tips and guidance. Waffle Iron Giveaway Rebecca Gordon is giving away a $30 gift card to Target to buy the Oster Waffle Iron she uses. To enter to win, visit vestaviavoice.com and leave a comment on the Banana Bread Buttermilk Waffles story by June 15. The winner’s name will be announced on Facebook and on page 4 of our July issue, and must contact the Vestavia Voice at rebecca@vestaviavoice. com to claim the prize.
June 2013 • 9
VestaviaVoice.com
Business Spotlight 700 Montgomery Highway Suite 106 822-3991 shopcollage.com Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Collage
Designer Consignment By MADOLINE MARKHAM In 1995, Tracy True Dismukes was six years into her career as an internal marketing management consultant. She loved her job, but felt that there was a creative element missing in her professional life. That’s when her thoughts went to consignments stores, the places that enabled her to outfit a corporate wardrobe on a budget. She had never worked in retail, but armed with an MBA, she had the business background. And as a customer, she knew what shoppers wanted. “I thought I could do a better job than what I was seeing,” she said. Before long, she had bought Collage Designer Consignment, then located in an old home in Homewood. From there, she built up the business with the eye of a customer, making the shopping process as quick and easy as possible. Dismukes said the business’ bread and butter is what people where everyday: brands like Chico’s, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and J Crew. The store also sells high-end designers such as St. John, Armani and Tory Burch. In addition to clothing, customers can find designer handbags, shoes, formal dresses and accessories, as well as brand new gift items in the front area of the store.
Tracy True Dismukes owns Collage Consignment.
“The more people know about us, the better things we have,” Dismukes said. “It feeds on itself.” All their merchandise was new within the past two years and is in perfect condition. Consignors bring it in dry cleaned or freshly laundered and ready to sell for the current season. Items are priced at approximately onethird of retail, and consignors receive 4050 percent of the selling price. “There is a lot of money sitting in your closet,” Dismukes said. “And it’s
a lot of fun to shop without money.” Consignors can shop with store credit, that is. Customers don’t have to have an appointment to consign during the week, but appointments are required on Saturdays. Items are kept as merchandise for 60 days and then given to The Foundry on the consignor’s behalf if they do not sell. The store will host an event in March in conjunction with My Sister’s Closet and the YWCA to give prom dresses to
girls who cannot afford them. In 2000 Dismukes moved the store to “the Curve” in downtown Homewood, and in 2001 she bought Nice and New in Vestavia, which became Collage, as well as a plus sized store next door. In September 2012, both Vestavia stores were merged into one location in Vestavia City Center. Extensive renovations created a contemporary look for the former Milestone Books location. The grand reopening was
held in conjunction with the business’ 20-year anniversary. “Vestavia shoppers are so loyal,” Dismukes said. “Our regulars followed us, and new people find us every hour.” The storefronts are just the beginning of the consignment empire Dismukes has built. In 2008 she partnered with 12 other consignment stores in Alabama to start a television show, Consignment Chic. The show later evolved into one minute segments that ran 30 times each week, all to raise awareness that with consignment options people don’t have to go far or spend a lot of money to get great items. Starting in January, she created Collage TV, which in 5 minutes or less shares short video segments featuring how-to style tips and other topics on the Collage TV YouTube channel and through a weekly client email. So far the videos have covered ‘what dry cleaners really do with your clothes,’ Birmingham Fashion Week, and various fashion tips. Also working with other stores in her role as the president of the national consignment industry association, she started an ecommerce website, consignmentchic.com, in 2009. “It’s an exciting industry right now,” Dismukes said. “It’s chic to recycle and not have to spend a lot of money to look great.”
10 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice
Summer fun
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. Photo courtesy Ruffner Mountain.
By MOLLIE BARTHOLEMEW Summer is upon us. Hitting the pool and playing around the neighborhood are great, but it’s also fun to get outside Vestavia Hills for a new adventure. We’ve compiled a list of things to do just a short drive away, some outdoor and some indoor, some close by and some a little further. I’ve tried them all out with my family and recommend each and every one. You’ll also find contact information as well as the driving distance and time from Vestavia Hills City Center to help you plan your trip.
Vestavia Voice Sales Manager Matthew Allen tries out the new Beanstalk Forest at Red Mountain Park.
Outdoor Fun
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
Red Mountain Park
14 miles, 20 minutes. Enjoy miles of tranquil forest covered trails as well as heart-pumping ridgeline trails. The new architecturally “green” Treehouse Visitor Center boasts a woodland animal exhibit, and the Back porch is a perfect place for a family picnic. • For the GPS: 1214 81st St. S. Birmingham, AL 35206 Visit ruffnermountain.org or call 833-8264.
8 miles, 15 minutes. Birmingham’s newest green space offers 10 miles of hiking trails, seven miles of mountain biking trails and two miles of flat trails. The Tree House at the top of the ridge is a favorite for kids of all ages! For those with older kids seeking more adventure, a thrilling zip line tour through the canopy of trees or the new the Beanstalk Forest adventure will please even the least outdoorsy family member. • For the GPS: 277 Lyon Lane, Birmingham, AL 35211 Visit redmountainpark.org or call 202-6043.
Moss Rock Preserve and Waterfalls 7 miles, 16 minutes Spend a morning hiking the 10 miles of trails at
Moss Rock Preserve. The trails will whisk you past two cascading waterfalls and through a unique and historic boulder field. These huge rocks were once used by Native Americans as campsites, and today are popular for bouldering and rock climbing. The rocks are also a wonderland for kids; the rock tunnels are a great for a game of hide and seek. • For the GPS: 617 Preserve Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35226 Visit exploresouthernhistory.com/mossrock.html.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park 26 miles, 35 minutes Discover how Birmingham’s iron industry began on these 1,500 acres through blacksmith
VestaviaVoice.com
around town
June 2013 • 11
Southern Museum of Flight. Photo courtesy of the Southern Museum of Flight.
demonstrations held at Tannehill on the weekends. A mini train also chugs 1 mile up to Farley Field. Many of the hiking trails available today were used by Confederate troops during the Civil War and are some of the most beautiful sections of the park. Skip rocks in the creek or even bring a fishing pole, as the creek is stocked with Rainbow Trout. Wrap up your visit with something delicious at the Sweet Shoppe for the short ride home. • For the GPS: 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, AL 35111 Visit tannehill.org or call 477-5711.
Argo Drive-In 30 miles, 35 minutes An inexpensive and fun way to spend an evening with the family! Go back to the 1950s with an old-fashioned drive in. Pack an appetizer style picnic dinner the family can graze on, complete with homemade popcorn. If the evening proves to be a nice southern night, open your tailgate and line the back with pillows or use a blow up mattress in a friend’s truck bed. If you want to move outdoors, BYOC (bring your own chair), grab a blanket, and set up shop facing the
screen. There is nothing like taking in a family flick under the southern night sky. • For the GPS: 100 Angus Street, Trussville, AL 35173 Visit argodrive-in.com or call 467-3434 for more.
Indoor Fun Peanut Depot 6 miles, 10 minutes. What could be better than a warm bag of peanuts on a cold and rainy day? Drive into the loft district and walk onto cobblestoned Morris Avenue to take a trip back in time. Take in the architecture as you walk into the turn-of-thecentury building that houses the Peanut Depot. Let the kids enjoy the sights and sounds of the antique roasters roasting peanuts the original organic way. Be sure to take a bag to go – the first bag will likely be gone before you arrive back in Vestavia Hills. • For the GPS: 2016 Morris Ave., Birmingham, AL 35203 Visit peanutdepot.com or call 251-3314.
Vintage Fire Truck Museum 7 miles, 15 minutes. Imagine you are 5 years old, dreaming of hopping in an open-top fire truck, honking the horn, running the siren, and even pretending you are racing to a real fire. Now wake up – in downtown Birmingham, this is a reality. The Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association houses more than 20 vintage fire trucks dating back to 1917. Truck owners and museum staff couldn’t be any nicer or more excited to share their collection with your family. It is a morning well spent and a ball for all who are young and young at heart. Contact Jerry Northington at 903-0050 to schedule a visit.
Southern Museum of Flight 13 miles, 20 minutes. Let the kids take off on a morning of adventure at this museum of southern aviation history. The attraction is outstandingly familyfriendly and offers fun for toddlers through teens. A pilots’ playroom includes an indoor mini playground and many aircraft toys, a
Moonwalk, an airplane open for exploration and a flight simulator for kids age 12 and over. An F-4 Phantom provides shade for the perfect picnic spot, so pack a lunch for this highflying fun morning. • For the GPS: 4343 73rd St. N., Birmingham, AL 35206 Visit southernmuseumofflight.org or call 8338226.
Golden Flake Company 7 miles, 15 minutes. Have you ever eaten a warm chip right off the delivery line? Well if not, you’re in luck. Birmingham is home to one of the oldest and most recognizable snack companies in the nation, Golden Flake. The company offers walking tours to ages 5 and up Monday through Wednesday. Come hungry — you will have plenty of time to sample warm chips just off the line, as well as take some bags of fresh chips home with you and all for free! • For the GPS: 1 Golden Flake Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 Visit goldenflake.com/tours.html or call 323-6161.
12 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice
Community
Casino Royale raises money for library
Acting workshop coming for seniors
Kristin Martin, Volunteer Chair; Jordan Bishop, Membership/Administration Chair; Katie Lamaster, Auction Chair; June Clark, PALS Chair; Beth Martin, Casino Royale Chair; Amy Kirkpatrick, Auction Chair; Megan Kincaid, Casino Royale Chair; Michele Morrow, Treasurer; and Renie Moss, Communications Chair.
By JUNE CLARK PALS (People Affecting Library Success) transformed the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest into a fun-filled casino in April for its Casino Royale fundraiser and silent auction. The event raised more than $11,550 for the Library’s Children’s Department. A record number of guests attended and enjoyed gourmet cuisine sponsored by Iz Catering with beverages compliments of International Wines. Along with live music by Rockstar, blackjack,
roulette, poker and craps tables from Goodfellas Gaming set amidst the library’s stacks provided entertainment. Silent auction items included gift certificates to boutiques and restaurants, jewelry, art, gift baskets, football tickets and Duck Dynasty memorabilia. Guests cashed in their chips at the end of the evening to try for a number of raffle items. Proceeds from the night surpassed 2012 profits by nearly $4,000 and will fund programs, performers, books and other department needs.
Library Director Taneisha Young Tucker and Children’s Department Head April Moon offered thanks to PALS for the successful event. “There is no way we would be able to continue to offer as many quality performers, prizes and give-aways to the almost 3,000 kids who sign up for summer reading without PALS and their fundraising efforts,” Moon said. “We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated group of ladies and such a generous community!” Event chairs Beth Martin and Megan Kincaid planned the event
with help from PALS Board members Jordan Bishop, June Clark, Kristin Martin, Michele Morrow and Renie Moss and auction chairs Katie Lamaster and Amy Kirkpatrick. PALS gratefully acknowledges the support of platinum sponsors Witt Chiropractic and Principal Mortgage, LLC as well as gold sponsors Johnston Firm, PC of Red Mountain Law Group and Stouts Mountain Ranch. A number of others provided additional assistance. Visit librarypals.org for the full list and more information about PALS.
Senior adults can take a first step onstage or brush up acting skills in a workshop held by The Seasoned Performers. The program will allow you to exercise your creative imagination, warm-up your natural acting ability and let your expressiveness soar. All five of the beginning acting sessions will be led by Martha Haarbauer, founder of The Seasoned Performers. Each will focus on getting comfortable onstage and learning the basics of acting through theatre exercises, improvisation and short scenes. No memorizing is required. Sessions will be held June 18, 19, 25 26 and 28 from 10 a.m.-noon in Room 324 at the Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. The cost is $125. For more call 978-5095 or email martha@seasonedperoformers. org. To learn more about The Seasoned Performers, visit seasonedperformers.org.
Liberty Park to hold barbecue This year’s annual summer barbecue bash for Liberty Park residents will be June 15 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Invitations will be sent at the beginning of June. Festivities will be held at the Vestlake Community Pool and include a DJ, barbecue, inflatables, face painting, cotton candy and snow cones. Call 945-6400 for more.
Faith
Dr. Danny Wood
Pastor’s corner Digging up old ground BY Dr. DANNY WOOD Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church
Shortly after my wife and I moved into our house in Louisiana, she had a vision of a backyard filled with azaleas. All I saw were weeds and branches, but she was convinced the “azalea vision” could become a reality. Needing help in this transformational project, I turned to my senior adult neighbor, Mr. Henry. He was the logical choice because he spent hours working in his immaculate yard. He agreed to come by and take a look at my backyard and give me his opinion. To my chagrin, he agreed that my wife’s vision could become a reality, but first I needed to dig up the ground so the roots of the azaleas could go deep. The implement of choice would be a tiller, and he had one I could borrow. His tiller was not the small infomercial type; it was the “Boss Hogg” of tillers. Mr. Henry gave me one quick lesson on tilling and warned me that once those blades hit the ground it had some power. When he offered to give me more instruction, I quickly
said that none was needed. “I’ve got this,” I assured him. (Apparently Mr. Henry had watched me handle mechanical equipment in the past, and thus he stepped away about 30 feet.) I cranked up that tiller, got those blades rotating and set it on the ground. It then took off with me hanging on! We were making a beeline for my deck, and all I could think was that I was going to chew up my entire deck. Luckily, I shut it down just before the steps. A smiling Mr. Henry asked, “Do you want that second lesson?” After agreeing to the second lesson, I began the tilling adventure. I tilled all the soil and planted the azaleas, and the vision was on its way to reality. However, there was something interesting about the ground that I was tilling. As those blades dug deeper in the ground, they brought up things that had been buried for years. There were old cans, trash, roots and boards I never knew were there that had been buried in that
hardened ground for years. It took the tiller to bring them to the surface and to remove them. Hosea 10:12 says: “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” In your life, you might have some hidden and hardened attitudes: roots of bitterness, unforgiveness or prideful rebellion. There might be attitudes and feelings you have suppressed that have hardened you to others and to God. If you live with events in your past that are painful to even think about, please accept by faith that it is worth the pain to dig them up and apply God’s word to them in order to be set free. A casual raking will not get the job done. You need to allow God to take the tiller to your life and dig up that old ground. There is an “azalea vision” awaiting you!
June 2013 • 13
VestaviaVoice.com
Wing Ding returns
John Henley and the State Farm team at last year’s Wing Ding.
By JEFF THOMPSON Hot sauces and cool music will be back in Vestavia Hills this month as the Wing Ding returns to spice up the summer scene. Now in its second year, the festival puts local chefs to the test and invites the community out to sample their cooking. The Wing Ding, scheduled for Fathers Day weekend, will feature activities for the whole family, including a kids zone and live music by Rollin’ in the Hay and Willie Guy and the Lost Maples. Organizers hope to build on the success of last year’s event, which featured 15 teams of local cooks, recorded an attendance of more than 1,000 and raised approximately $4,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation. “It’s really an event about awareness,” organizer Jay Dennis said. “There are several families in the Vestavia Hills community that have children with CF, and unlike cancer, many people don’t know what the disease is or how it
affects these families.” The Wing Ding is a project designed and presented by Leadership Vestavia Hills. Dennis said when the idea was introduced it was backed immediately by City of Vestavia Hills administration, as it fit with the City’s desire to include more community events on its calendar. The 2011 Leadership class that developed the Wing Ding sought to create an event that broke age barriers and brought the entire Vestavia Hills community out to celebrate together. They chose to support the fight against CF not only to raise awareness for community members suffering from the disease, but also because they felt organization was a good steward of its funds. “Out of every dollar that’s provided to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 99 cents goes to local researchers working to develop a cure, which they’re darn near close to,” Dennis said. Last year, organizers were just hoping to break even, Dennis said. So after receiving such a warm
welcome, expectations for the follow up are high. Returning sponsors include Cox Media Group, Moore’s Marinade and Aliant Bank, as well as a host of other businesses and individuals, including Mugshots Bar and Grill, which will open its patio to serve adult beverages. “Having such incredible sponsors as well as supporting the fight against CF is great for our city,” Dennis said. “Not only will be broadcasting to the broader community and bringing positive exposure to Vestavia Hills, the Wing Ding brings tax revenue to the city and provides awareness for a worthy cause.” The event is scheduled for June 15 from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Vestavia Hills City Center parking deck. Admission is $4, and children 12 and under attend free. For more, call Dennis at 447-7420 or Hurston Raley at 314-5537, email info@vestaviawingding.com or visit facebook. com/VestaviaWingDing.
Vestavia Hills Wing Ding Saturday, June 15 10:30 a.m.– 3 p.m. Vestavia Hills City Center Parking Deck $4 for adults, free for children 12 and under
Featuring: • Wing-cooking competition • Live music by Rollin’ in the Hay and Willie Guy and the Lost Maples • Kids Zone including a moonwalk • Proceeds support Cystic Fibrosis Foundation For more, visit facebook.com/ VestaviaWingDing
Summer Fun Photo Contest
Capture the fun of summer with your camera, and send us your favorite shots of the backyard, lake, beach, mountain, neighborhood, and wherever you and your family are. Our staff will choose the images that most colorfully capture a summer experience. Prizes will be awarded to contest winners. Category One: Any summer fun photo Category Two: A summer fun photo displaying a copy of Vestavia Voice wherever you are To enter, email your photos in a jpeg format to contests@vestaviavoice.com. Please send high quality images and include a caption and photo credit. Only four entry photos are allowed per person.
Deadline for entries is August 1, 2013. We will publish the winners in the September issue as well as post them on our Facebook page and VestaviaVoice.com
14 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice
School House
Representing the nations
Liberty Park Middle School students participated in the Junior United Nations Assembly.
Twenty-seven Liberty Park middle schoolers participated in the 22nd Junior United Nations Assembly recently at Birmingham-Southern College. Sixth grade teams represented the countries of Kenya and Colombia. The Kenyan topic was the worldwide water and sanitation problem, and the Colombia topic was the child soldier problem. Seventh and eighth grade teams represented the countries of Estonia, Thailand and Ireland. The Estonia topic was decreasing school dropout rates. The Thailand topic was protecting the endangered Maylayan Tigers, and the Ireland topic was the worldwide child abuse problem. Students worked in teams to write resolutions, persuasive speeches and 30-second summaries. They also designed
costumes, made flags and created display boards to showcase their country and its problem Sixth grade participants on the Kenya team were: Frances Fowler, Alison Levine, Elizabeth Meeks, Robyn Sanders, Arlana Spencer, Beth Studdard and Grace Uldrich. Sixth grade participants on the Colombia team were: Bryce Hutchinson, Whit McDaniel, Campbell Miller, Eric Schroeder and Ian Schultz. Seventh and eighth grade participants were: Ireland – Rachael Brooks, Chandler Clemmons, Bess Gordon, Nate Gordon and Ellie Wright; Thailand – Caitlin Crane, Grayson Gale, Lauren Laughlin, Kanely Lemke and Alayna Priebe; Estonia – Laurel Coomes, Emma Fox, Ella Guven, Samantha Jesse and Kaitlyn Munger. -Submitted by Linda Rummell
Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation awards grants The Board of Directors of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation has awarded grants totaling $54,538 to seven Vestavia Hills schools and the Vestavia Hills Board of Education. The Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, provides grants each year to Vestavia Hills educators for technology improvements, classroom enhancement projects and professional development opportunities for teachers. All Vestavia Hills teachers and the Board of Education may submit grant requests to the Foundation each fall. The Foundation currently has a grantmaking endowment of more than $2 million. The principal endowment is invested, and only the interest earned on the principal is used to fund grants. Since providing its first grants in 1999, the Foundation has awarded $606,373 to Vestavia Hills city schools and the Board of Education. “I strongly encourage all Vestavia citizens
to become part of this endeavor by making a contribution to the Foundation,” said Dr. Jamie Blair, Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent. “As everyone is well aware, we are still suffering from a loss of state funding in all school systems throughout the state. In Vestavia, we are very lucky to have the Foundation to help provide the support we need to enhance our students’ educational opportunities. We are proud to have one of the best school systems in the country. Funding from the Foundation helps continue this standard of excellence.” Some of the grants awarded this year build on successful projects funded in previous years. This year’s $22,000 grant to the Board of Education, for example, will provide training opportunities for every teacher in the Vestavia Hills school district to further incorporate the state’s Common Core Standard. “Providing this professional development
An artistic cart
Planetary exploration In April Linda Rummell, sixth grade gifted specialist, invited the Birmingham Astronomical Society to bring telescopes to Liberty Park Middle School so the students and community could view the night sky. Seventy-eight middle school students attended as well as parents, community members and members of the local Liberty Park boy scout troop. Those in attendance were able to view Jupiter, Saturn, the international space station, the moon and stars. Students also made star wheels that guided them in locating stars and constellations. Later in the month Desiree Spencer, sixth grade science teacher, invited Dr. Lawrence DeLucas, a biochemist who flew aboard NASA space shuttle mission STS-50 as a payload specialist, to speak to students. Students also visited the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center, where they were given a guided tour, watched an iMovie, rode the interactive simulators, visited exhibits and participated in a hands-on science lab. -Submitted by Linda Rummell
Students at Liberty Park Middle School engage in hands-on studies of space.
Art on display at VHHS The Annual VHHS Spring Art Show was on display for a week in April. The art show gives all visual art students the opportunity to showcase their work and talents in a variety of categories such as drawing, painting, design, digital photography and digital imaging. The Best of Show winner was Alyssa Patrick for her work titled, “Trapped in a Story,” and the Best of Show second place winner was Soojung Kim for her work titled, “Chain”. -Submitted by Eleanor Rushing
Soojung Kim and Alyssa Patrick’s art pieces won second and first place, respectively, for Best in Show at VHHS’s Spring Art Show.
Grants awarded this year include: Elementary – West $4,000 Purchase iPads to expand computer lab. Vestavia Hills Elementary – East $4,000 Purchase iPads to expand computer lab, equip the school’s Enrichment program and provide for general school use. Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park $3,500 Provide summer professional development opportunities for teachers to focus on Common Core Language Arts Standards. Vestavia Hills High School $8,045 Purchase iPads for 10th grade physical science students and continue professional development program to convert chemistry classes to inquiry-based and to meet Common Core Standards.
training opportunity to all of our teachers is a huge undertaking,” said Sheila Phillips, Vestavia City Schools assistant superintendent. “We would not have the resources to do this without the Foundation’s support. These training workshops benefit every school, every teacher and in turn
Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights $3,255 Purchase an iPad syncing/charging cart and a TV for the lobby to display important school information. Vestavia Hills Elementary – Central $4,000 Purchase iPads and software to help create computer lab for students in conjunction with the Bring Your Own Device program. Pizitz Middle School $5,738 Purchase iPads for the Media Center for check out by students and teachers in conjunction with the Bring Your Own Device program. Vestavia Hills Board of Education $22,000 Provide summer professional development opportunities for district’s 500 teachers, focusing on science, social studies and language arts in preparation for Common Core Standards. every student in our system.” For more information about the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation, visit vestaviafoundation. org or contact the Foundation’s Executive Director Ashley Thompson at 978-8808. -Submitted by Vestavia City Schools
Learning in the dirt
A group of students in Eleanor Rushing’s Art 3 class at Vestavia Hills High School decorated the “Discovery Cart” at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The cart is a portable classroom used during the Gardens’ Discovery Field Trips and award-winning, curriculum based educational program that provides free science education to Birmingham area children in grades K-6. Students participating in the project are Soojung Kim, Alicia Hawley, Kathryn Stalnaker, Zeke Ketcham and Hannah Grace Davis. -Submitted by Eleanor Rushing
Preschool and kindergarten classes at Saint Mark United Methodist Church have the opportunity to plant flowers in either the fall or spring garden. Children excitedly monitor the growth of their special flower each day. While studying insects in the spring, they observe the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies, and then release the butterflies into the garden to further enrich their study of nature. The opportunity to dig in the dirt makes learning even more fun.
The Discovery Cart at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens has a new look thanks to VHHS art students.
Cole Smith, a student of Saint Mark kindergarten, is assisted by Michele Hayes as he prepares to plant his begonia in the playground garden at Saint Mark.
June 2013 • 15
VestaviaVoice.com
‘The consummate Rebel man’ Principal McWaters’ legacy at VHHS
By JEFF THOMPSON At Vestavia Hills High School, everyone knows about the “Rebel Edge.” It was introduced as a philosophy, but it’s much more than that to students and faculty. It’s a teaching tool, a mindset and a battle cry. And the man who introduced it saw it in full force last month as he prepared for his final days as a Rebel. “It’s something that I promoted and built over the years,” said VHHS Principal Cas McWaters. “It’s a means of keeping us together by remembering we should always strive to be excellent in everything.” That includes retirement celebrations. On “Cas McWaters Day,” Principal McWaters arrived at school to a crowd of cheering students. He had a busy day planned, but he soon found he’d be clearing his schedule. After lunch, he wrapped himself in a paisley sheet made to resemble a toga and was carried into the gymnasium hoisted on shoulders. There, the entire student body had congregated for a ceremony. They dressed in costumes recognizing their principal’s quirks and characteristics. Behind him was a banner that blanketed the wall naming McWaters “King of the Hills.” A new direction McWaters, 51, has spent the majority of his life as part of the Vestavia Hills School System. He started in kindergarten and progressed though the system, graduating from VHHS in 1980. The following year he was off to Auburn University, but before VHHS’s next baseball season, he was volunteer coaching at the school. He would continue for the next eight years. Originally, McWaters wanted to enter the medical field, but he said he changed his mind because he didn’t want to sacrifice the time it required. He graduated with a degree in chemistry and, soon after, was given the opportunity that would direct the remainder of his life. One of McWaters’ former teachers, Richard Owen, was sick and was faced with a being out of the classroom for an extended period of time. Owen called McWaters and asked if he’d like to try his hand as a substitute teacher. “I just loved it,” McWaters said. “Immediately after, I had an aunt who asked if I could substitute teach for her for six weeks. That was the fall of 1985. In January of 1986, I was the second student in the state to enroll in (The University of) Montevallo’s fifth year program to get my master’s
Vestavia Hills High School Principal Cas McWaters Photo by Jeff Thompson.
in education.” In 1987, McWaters took a position at Pelham High School but didn’t abandon his hometown. He kept coaching at Vestavia Hills, and by the 1988 baseball season he was coaching for the Rebels full-time. For more than a decade, McWaters taught and coached for the school, and in 1999 he moved into administration as assistant principal. He didn’t stop coaching until 2003 though, and his first separation from the school system came the following year. In 2004, McWaters accepted the position of principal at Tarrant High School and remained there through the 2006 school year. In 2007, he came home to become principal at VHHS, a position he’ll be retiring from this month. Developing an ‘edge’ For McWaters’ retirement, the VHHS yearbook staff assembled a video that marked his many accomplishments during his tenure. Since he’s been principal, 2,809 students have graduated the school, 98 percent of them have attended college (28 to Ivy League schools) and more than $104 million has been offered to them in scholarships. When the video was produced, McWaters had been principal to
‘I had a former employer ask me, “Why it is the faculty and are the kids are so loyal to you?” I said, “The Golden Rule. Have a genuine care and concern for people. That’s all it takes.’’’ – Cas McWaters witness 10 VHHS teams win AHSAA State Championships – make that 13 now with the school claiming titles in Varsity Boys Soccer and Tennis and Varsity Girls Tennis in 2013. In addition, Vestavia Hills High has raised more than $1 million for charities under McWaters. “ I have an interesting perspective, having been principal at a school
with a 98 percent poverty rate among students. And I’ve seen and worked on both sides of the tracks,” McWaters said, banging his hand against his desk before his next sentence. “To me, it’s very important for our kids to realize that we are blessed and that it is our responsibility to give back.” Developing a philanthropic mindset at VHHS – a major part of the Rebel Edge – is vital. To him, he said, volunteering is not an extracurricular activity. The school allows time during the day for clubs to meet and discuss ways to improve their communities. Philanthropy, especially in student organizations, leads to a sense of community in the student body. And building community, he said, leads to building culture. “It is how you build school culture, and I think that’s one of my proudest accomplishments,” he said. “We have a great school culture where kids are part of talking to each other – they’re part of each other’s lives.” Lasting legacy The foundation of the Rebel Edge always comes back to one thing, though. “I’m big on relationships. That’s the key to reaching kids and reaching people,” McWaters said. “I had a
former employer ask me, ‘Why it is the faculty and are the kids are so loyal to you?’ I said, ‘The Golden Rule. Have a genuine care and concern for people. That’s all it takes.’” VHHS students and faculty see it everyday. “He has the ability to foster loyalty in the faculty because he treats us all as professionals,” said Charlotte Manning, head of the Math Department at VHHS and longtime friend of McWaters. “He cares about everybody, and if you go to him with any problem, he may not be able to fix it, but he’ll do everything he can to make it right.” Former teachers remember McWaters the same way. “I was always impressed at his individual care for his teachers,” said Karen Delano, current superintendent of Auburn City Schools and former VHHS teacher. “There were several times over years when teachers would come to him with problems or need time off for illness or death, and he always went above and beyond to take care of them.” McWaters said the senses of community, philanthropy and culture won’t leave the school with his departure, and he made sure to remind everyone attending the Cas McWaters Day celebration that it’s up to both them and incoming principal Wes Gordon to continue what he started. “He’s the rock and the foundation of the school,” Manning said. “He said to the student body that his is just a position, and he does not define it. The role of principal at Vestavia Hills will always be there, and as his legacy he asked us to carry on the Rebel Edge for him.” Starting over After retiring in June, McWaters said he would be taking a position at Bessemer Academy as the school looks to develop a choir program. He said it not only gives him the opportunity to return to the classroom but also the chance to continue in his longtime passion. In college, McWaters was a member of the Auburn Singers, and he’s since continued performing as a contemporary and Gospel vocalist. He said he owns part of a recording studio in Nashville and is still performing in about seven concerts a year. Beyond that, he said he also intends to keep teaching his regular Sunday school class at Shades Mountain Baptist Church. As he’s given so much of his life to Vestavia Hills, he said he’s unlikely to stop. But wherever you find McWaters after he leaves VHHS, nearby you’ll find the Rebel Edge.
Vestavia Hills High School Principal Cas McWaters retires this month but not without first being recognized with the studentcreated fanfare of Cas McWaters Day, pictured left and right, in May. Photos courtesy of Millie Whitacre.
16 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice
thimbles
Sports Rebels soccer takes state title By JEFF THOMPSON The stakes were higher this time, but it was business as usual for the Vestavia Hills and Oak Mountain High School Varsity Boys Soccer teams. Following a 0-0 regulation finish and two scoreless overtime periods in the 6A State Championship in May, the two teams went to a shootout for the third time in four games this season. Over the last three seasons, it marked the ninth time in 11 games the two teams ended a game in penalty kicks. “We’re used to shootouts,” Vestavia Hills Head Coach Rick Grammar said. “We don’t like them, but we’re used to them.” In each of the previous two seasons, the Rebels were knocked out of the state playoffs by OMHS. This year, Vestavia Hills put all four of its shots into the net while the Eagles only made two, and claimed school’s third Alabama High School Athletic Association 6A State Championship in Boys Soccer. “I though it was outstanding,” Grammar said. “With teenage boys, you always wonder how bad they want stuff, but once we got into the state playoffs, you could tell they gave everything they had. “They played with passion that game. We knew it was going to be war and it was.” Grammar said his Rebels began to show fatigue in the second half
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The 2013 Vestavia Hills Varsity Soccer Team celebrates its state championship win over Oak Mountain High School in May. Photo courtesy of Heather Ward.
and Oak Mountain had chances to score, but goalkeeper Marvin Castellanos capped his remarkable season in the title game. Castellanos recorded 24 shutouts this season, and finished the final with three saves and a block in the shootout.
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“A shootout is exciting, but it’s a tough situation for the goalie on both sides,” said Vestavia Hills Athletic Director Buddy Anderson. Grammar also gave credit to OMHS Coach Ryan Patridge for leading the Eagles in a
professional manner. “I’m really quite impressed with Coach Patridge,” Grammar said. “He’s gracious win or lose. When they lost, he was very complimentary of our team, and I really appreciate his class.”
June 2013 • 17
VestaviaVoice.com
Vestavia Hills Varsity Boys and Girls Tennis Teams celebrate their state championship wins in April. Photo courtesy of VHHS Boys Tennis Coach Adam Kolasa.
VHHS sweeps tennis state championships In April, Vestavia Hills varsity tennis teams claimed AHSAA 6A State Championships for both the boys and girls programs. The Varsity Girls Tennis Team ended the tournament with 59 points, and Haley Harmon, Hannah Nelson and Katherine Shunnarah each took home state singles titles.
The Rebel boys team also had a strong showing at the tournament, finishing with 71 points. Individual titles went to Ziqi Wang, Cabel Cantrell and Jack Patton, and doubles titles went to VHHS’s top two teams of Wang/ Cantrell and John Morson/Patton.
MACOY from pg 1
students have been first across the finish line in the AHSAA Cross Country State Championships. That day in 2012, Mac Macoy became the second. His father was the first. Coy was a VHHS senior running the finals on a 3-mile course in South Alabama when he took first place in the 1981 event, and 31 years later Mac followed in his father’s footsteps. In 2012, Mac completed the 3.1-mile course in 15:37.30, leading Vestavia Hills’ to its first 6A AHSAA Cross Country Championship in 25 years. Its last came in 1987. VHHS also became the first school since 1998 other than Mountain Brook or Hoover High to take the state cross country title. Starting slow Mac was born to runners but wasn’t necessarily born a runner. His father had success in the sport in high school and his mother, Adrienne Macoy, in college at UAB. She still runs marathons. “It’s great for the family that we all have this in common,” Adrienne said. “It’s just fun.” But in junior high, Mac was more of a golfer. At least, he wanted to be. The family attributes its faith in God to Mac’s change of direction. With the tryouts for the seventh grade golf team approaching, Mac fell ill and, in February, missed his first day of school that year. He also missed the mandatory meeting required to tryout for the team and wasn’t allowed a makeup. “We told him, ‘You have to do something,’” Adrienne said. “He was one who came home a couple weeks later and said he was going to go do track. When he said that we kind of giggled, because, when he played baseball, watching him run the bases was like watching a turtle.” “Literally, from home to first, he was the slowest on his team,” Coy added, “but the thing is, Mac can run two miles at same pace he can run a half mile.” And Mac proved that at the AHSAA State Track and Field Championship in May. More to come Going back 31 years, Coy trained for state distance running competitions traversing a puddle-heavy course at VHHS. He said, like his son does now, he ran about 50 miles a week in preparation. But Mac has assembled a host of healthy habits Coy never had.
Mac Macoy competes in the AHSAA Cross Country State Championship in 2012. Photo courtesy of Adrienne Macoy.
“He’s real good about what eats, and he doesn’t drink soft drinks,” Coy said. “I pretty much ate whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Mac goes to bed early every night. I went to sleep when my parents made me go to sleep. “He’s a lot more disciplined, and that’s probably the reason he’s doing a lot better than I did my junior year.” Last month, VHHS placed fourth in the outdoor track state championships, but Mac took first place in the 3,200-meter event and as part of the 4x800-meter relay team. He also won the 1,600-meter, and 31 years ago Coy won that race, too. “I’m just very proud of him. He’s just earned it,” Coy said of his son. “He trains harder than any other high school kid I’ve seen. It’s special to have him do it after I did, but it’s really an honor to see the effort and work that he’s put into it.” Besides Mac’s work ethic, the Macoy family credits his coaches, Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Brett Huber and Assistant Coach Tom Jennings, for training Mac to find success in the sport. A faith in God, Mac said, is also a powerful motivator on the course. But one contributor that can’t be overlooked is that this talent runs in the family.
18 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice
Community Calendar Greater Birmingham area events
City events Visit vestaviahills.net
Council Chamber, 6-7 p.m.
June 10: Senior Citizen Luncheon. Dogwood Room, Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
June 18: Parks and Recreation Board. Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 7-8:30 a.m.
June 11: Chamber Luncheon. Vestavia Country Club, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. June 13: Planning and Zoning Commission. City
June 20: Friends of the Library. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 10-11 a.m. June 20: Board of Zoning Adjustment. City Council Chamber, 6-7 p.m.
Vestavia Events June 15: Wing Ding. Vestavia Hills City Center Parking Deck, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Wing festival to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Admission is $4 for adults, free for children. Visit facebook.com/ vestaviawingding. June 18-19, 25-26: Seasoned Performers Acting Workshop. Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.-noon. $125 cost for seniors. Call 978-5095 or email Martha@seasonedperformers.org. July 3: I Love America Summer Celebration. Wald Park. Visit facebook.com/ILoveAmericaSummerCelebrationSeries.
Library in the Forest Mondays: Nature Calls – Crafts on the Trail. 2 p.m. Ages firstsixth grade. Registration required. Tuesdays: Together with Twos Storytime with Miss Courtney. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays: I’m Diggin’ It! Story-Time. 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-6. Thursdays: Special Summer Performers. 11 a.m. Fridays: Dig Into Disney and Read to Reel. Movies at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
June 1: Juneteenth Culture Fest. Kelly Ingram Park, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free music, food, games and entrance pass to the Civil Rights Museum. Call 328-9696. June 1: Giving Hands 5K Starfish Strut. Veterans Park, 8 a.m. Onemile run to support Giving Hands. Visit givinghandsandhope.org. June 1: Alabaster CityFest. Free day of live music, including a 5K fun run. Visit alabastercityfest.com. June 2: Preserve Jazz Festival. Outdoor jazz festival at The Preserve in Hoover presented by Tom Williams Lexus. Grammy Award-winning Spyro Gyra is the headliner. $40 general admission. 3 p.m. Visit preservejazz.com. June 2: Vulcan’s 109th Birthday Bash. Vulcan Park, noon-4 p.m. A festive outdoor community celebration for the whole family. $3 admission, free for 4-under and Vulcan Members. Visit visitvulcan.com. June 5-8: Miss Alabama Pageant. Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 871-6276. June 8: Alabama Symphony Orchestra Concert. Railroad Park, 8 p.m. Pre-concert picnic on the lawn at 7:30 p.m. Free admission. Call 631-4680. June 8: Lakeshore’s Amazing Race. Teams of four will race across Lakeshore Foundation’s 45-acre campus completing interactive challenges. Proceeds go to the Lakeshore Foundation. Entry fee is $500/team. Registration at 8 a.m. Call 313-7400.
June 8: 3rd Annual Black Creek Arts Festival. Art show with local artists’ work, musical entertainment and children’s arts activities. Free admission. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 538-3676.
June 22: Smith Lake Poker Run. Registration Party on Friday evening and poker run on Saturday at 9 a.m. Benefits Birmingham AIDS Outreach. $50. Call 3224197.
June 13: Girls Night Out Operation Beach Ready. Fashion shows, food, local vendors, music and more at The Summit Club. $30. 6-10 p.m. Call 567-4668.
June 21-22: QuiltFest 2013. Oak Mountain Middle School, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Event includes a quilt show, vendors, demonstrations, door prizes and a silent auction to benefit Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. $7 for two-day admission, free for 5-under. Visit bhamquilters.com.
June 13: ArtCard: Porch Party and Blind Art Sale. Live music, food and art sale benefitting Oasis Counseling. $25. 6-9 p.m. Visit oasiscounseling.org/ artcard. June 15: Day on the River. Free environmental education festival for children grades three to six at King’s Bend on the Locus Fork River. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 9196231. June 13-15: 34th Annual National Sacred Harp Singing Convention. First Christian Church, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free admission. Visit mcsr.olemiss.edu/~mudws/national. June 15: Caribbean Festival. Boutwell Auditorium, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization presents a day of fun Caribbean style. Free admission. Call 383-6645. June 15: Dixie Reptile Show. BJCC, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Adults $4, children $1. Visit dixiereptileshow.com June 16: Bird House Extavaganza. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1-5 p.m. Visit ruffnermountain.org.
June 22: Cast of Impractical Jokers. Alabama Theatre, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Interactive comedy show featuring the cast of the popular TV show. $35 and up. Visit alabamatheatre.com/event/cast-ofimpractical-jokers-live. June 21-22: Rock the South 2013. Heritage Park, 3 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday. Music festival celebrating recovery from the 2011 tornados, featuring Sara Evans, The Band Perry, Scotty McCreery, Hank Williams, Jr. and more. There will also be a meet and greet with SEC football legends, hosted by Jay Barker. Two-day admission $49, one-day admission $30. Visit rockthesouth.com. June 21-23: State Games XXXI. The largest amateur multi-sporting event in the state, featuring Olympic-style events for Alabama’s youth. Visit alagames.com. July 4: Thunder on the Mountain. Vulcan Park Museum, 9-9:30 p.m. Enjoy Independence Day fireworks from many viewing locations across Birmingham. Call 933-1409.
‘Dig into Reading’ at the Library Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Summer Children’s Programming Summer reading at the Library in the Forest will officially kick off on June 2. From then on, children can come into the library and register for the program at any time. Each week, there will be a library scavenger hunt for the weekly “gemstone.” Children get a weekly prize for visiting the library and collecting the gemstones on their treasure maps. At the end of the 10th week, children who have collected the correct three gemstones may enter the magical cave for the final prize. There will also be an online version of the program, where children can go online and register to win exciting prizes: a Kindle, an InnoTab, Sweet Frog parties for up to 10 friends, a new bike from Bikelink and other fun prizes. Children will get prize entries according to the number of hours they log reading, not the number of books or pages. This makes it fair for everyone, whether a great reader or a beginner, and you can log your hours from home or when you come to the library. The prize drawings will be held at the finale party on Aug. 8, but you do not have to be present to win. Dig Into Reading Kickoff June 2, 2-4 p.m. We have invited Starshine Face Painters to set up and create works of art on our kids’ faces. Children can also dig for real gemstones, try to solve the Mystery of the Egyptian Tomb, and see Dr. Magical Balloons, a zany storyteller who uses his balloon sculptures and children from the audience to tell hilarious stories. The ice cream truck will give out treats, and everyone can sign up
for summer reading and get special goodie bags filled with coupons from local merchants. Sweet Frog mascots will also be on hand to meet and greet, and we will have drawings for special prizes. “The New Adventures of Brer Rabbit” June 6, 11 a.m. Puppeteer David Stevens makes his own puppets and has worked with Jim Henson and Sesame Street. He uses traditional hand puppets and always puts on a great show. As part of our community outreach, this show will also be at Cahaba Heights Elementary at 3 p.m. Magician Archie Wade June 13, 11 a.m. Archie Wade’s production is like having your PawPaw put on a magic show just for you. As part of our community outreach, this show will also be at the Barnes & Noble at The Summit at 3 p.m. Lew-E’s Educational Circus June 20, 11 a.m. This show has all the lights, sounds and visuals of a circus, but in a more compact, community room format. He juggles, does magic, makes balloon animals and entertains non-stop. Red String Shadow Puppets June 27, 11 a.m. Red String brings the rare and enthralling art of shadow puppetry to everyone. They will be performing two stories, and children of all ages will be enchanted by something they
rarely have the opportunity to see. As part of our community outreach, this show will also be at Cahaba Heights Elementary at 3 p.m. “The Secret Garden” July 3, 10:30 a.m. Hampstead Stage Co. will bring this classic family favorite to our outdoor amphitheater with the forest as a backdrop. This program will replace the weekly “I’m Diggin’ It” storytime on this date. The program will be held in the Community Room if weather is disagreeable. Library Closed July 4 No programming. “The Pied Bag-Piper of Hamelin” July 11, 11 a.m. Atlantic Coast Theater will bring its musical production to entertain. The Magic of Reading July 18, 11 a.m. Magician Russell Davis is a new performer for us but comes highly recommended from libraries in South Alabama. As part of our community outreach, this show will also be at Liberty Park for at 3 p.m. Stevens Marionette Puppets July 25, 11 a.m. The oldest puppet touring company in the U.S. will be performing “Rumplestiltskin” with its handmade wooden marionettes. This type of puppetry is always exciting, as few get to see a live performance. As part of our community outreach, this
show will also be at Cahaba Heights Elementary at 3 p.m.
Lots of songs, movement and short stories for our youngest library patrons.
“Aragaon” Aug. 1, 11 a.m. This a theater production from Atlanta features hilarious fractured fairy tales. The company does a lot with masks, puppets and audience participation. As part of our community outreach, this show will also be at Cahaba Heights Elementary at 3 p.m.
I’m Diggin’ It! Storytime Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. For ages 3-6, this special summer storytime will feature a different theme and storyteller each week. Come see what cool thing the storytellers “dig” each week! The program on July 3 will be a theater production in our amphitheater of “The Secret Garden.”
Dig Into Reading Summer Reading Finale Aug. 8, 11 a.m. Drummer Mark Seymour will start us off with his energetic drum program, and then we will break for a hot dog picnic outside on the Terrace and Amphitheater. Farmer Jason will bring it all home at 1 p.m. with his award-winning, colorful music show. We will also have the prize drawings for our online readers at this time. You do not have to be present to win.
Weekly Programming
All programs will run the first week of June through the week of Aug. 2-9. Nature Calls – Crafts on the Trail Mondays, 2 p.m. First-sixth grade. Must sign up to participate. Each week there will be a new craft with nature and our Library trail as the theme. Each program will be outside in our amphitheater, unless weather is an issue. Program limited to 50 participants each week. Together with Twos Storytime with Miss Courtney Tuesdays, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Special Summer Performers Thursdays, 11 a.m. All ages are invited, but parents should use their discretion as to which programs are appropriate for their child’s age range. Most performers request audiences of at least age 3 and up. Dig Into Disney and Read to Reel Fridays, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. A Disney feature-length movie will be shown at 11 a.m., and – children’s books that have been made into movies will show at 2 p.m. These movies will be chosen with older children in mind. Geocaching in the Forest Everyday Beginning June 2, the library will feature a new geocache location each Monday. Not sure what geocaching is? Visit the Geocache page on vestavialibrary.org for the weekly coordinates and instructions on how to participate. If you enjoy time on our Library in the Forest Trail, you will want to add this activity to your regular adventure!
June 2013 • 19
VestaviaVoice.com
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20 • June 2013
Vestavia Voice