Village Living June 2010

Village Living

| June 2010 |

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook

School House pg 14

David White

Sports

pg 6

pg 12

Volume 1 | Issue 3 | June 2010

New Lane Parke plan seeks approval

By Dan Starnes Elbert Jemison Jr.’s earliest memories of Mountain Brook Village are of riding ponies at the Mountain Brook Riding Academy in the late 1920s.

“I remember when the roads were dirt,” said Jemison, 89. “It was much smaller then. I’ve seen Mountain Brook developed along the way.”

Jemison’s uncle was the original developer of Mountain Brook. Robert Jemison Jr. borrowed a lot of money for development and nearly went broke when the Great Depression hit.

“Many friends told him to declare bankruptcy, but he was not the kind of person that could accept that. He vowed to repay every debt.”

And he did.

In the last year plans for the new development of 27 acres in Mountain Brook Village have sparked controversy.

The mixed use development plan for Lane Parke presented by Evson Inc. to the City of Mountain Brook received much scrutiny and the application for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) was withdrawn and never even voted on by the City Council.

The PUD is necessary because of the requirements of the Village Master Plan

June Features • Photo of the Month

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• For the Love of Food

4

• Business Spotlight

5

• Fire Department

6

• Kari Kampakis

7

• Ball of Roses

8 12

• New Crestline principal

17

• Show me the Money

18

• Life, love and fly fishing

18

• Calendar of Events

19

Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656

• Mountain Brook Athletes

The model is available for viewing at Mountain Brook City Hall. The photo of the model seen here shows part of the development from Lane Park Road. The front bottom portion of the photo shows the inn and the residential use area surrounding a parking structure. To the left are the remaining Park Lane Apartments and a neighborhood park. To the right is Jemison Lane.

adopted in 2007. It covers zoning issues for multiple building developments that are not addressed under current zoning laws.

Three other areas of Mountain Brook would require a PUD for further

development. They are Office Park, Canterbury Gardens Apartments, and Redmont Gardens Apartments.

The application filed last year sent shock waves through the community.

A group called Friends of Mountain Brook Villages distributed 700 yard signs reading “Save our Village.” Public hearings of the city council met vocal opposition to the plan.

Evson Inc. went back to the drawing board. They assembled a new design team and sought help from various experts in development, design, and architecture.

The new plan for the development became public May 21.

Cornelia Larussa, one of the founders of Friends of Mountain Brook Villages points out that many of the signs are still out there.

“They speak volumes that people are still paying attention to the proposal that is now on the table for our council’s consideration,” Larussa said.

Larussa said that the group doesn’t have an official membership roll, but is in touch with about 600 people via e-mail. A recent information meeting of the group had about 70 people in attendance.

Rele Evans Jr. and John Evans of Evson Inc. said the new plan takes into consideration the concerns expressed by the community and the City. Rele Evans Sr. developed the original apartments and

See LANE

PARKE, PAGE 11

The Bear’s legacy and the Lackey Estate

by Laura Canterbury

Much of Paul “Bear” Bryant’s life was public. After breaking the record for career victories by a college football head coach, Bryant called himself a tired old man who never got tired of football. That we know is true. He also never got tired of visiting his good friends, Julian and Averette Lackey. The Lackey Family, a prominent Birmingham family of entrepreneurs and owners of Ridout’s Funeral Homes, Birmingham Barons and Lackey Floral, owned an estate on Cherokee Road for more than 60 years. The estate was a favorite of Bryant who routinely visited and shared some southern comfort with his close friend. Bryant would visit Lackey on Sunday afternoons following a Tide victory (or loss) and they truly became Sunday morning quarterbacks.

The estate is situated on a 2 ½ acre gently sloping lot on the corner of Cherokee Road and Overcrest Road. The home boasts a unique concrete tile roof, seven bedrooms, six full baths, indoor pool/spa, 1 ¼ red oak hardwood floors throughout, a huge living room with high ceilings, original fireplaces, bay windows, true divided light single pane windows, large sun room, horizontal resawn pine lumber siding and more to come.

The home is being restored (and not remodeled) by G&B/DMI Joint Venture to its original prominence. Michael Davis Sr. and his partner Jim Browning, aided by

renowned architect, Ed Bailey and designer Lisa DeCarlo, have more than 50 years of combined experience in commercial and residential restoration. “It is a journey, not a destination for us. We are here all the time together working hard and have yet to have an argument. It has been a wonderful partnership,” Davis said. “We love being here and working on a house with so much history. We have found the original craftsmen’s old liquor bottles, a 1952 Barons Baseball Program and other secrets tucked behind walls and cabinets.”

Davis bought the estate in November 2009 initially for his daughter and since then has spent more time there then he would like to admit. They are adding an entertainment/carriage house style pavilion in the back of the home. Davis said finding a roof to match the original was a challenge, but they got it done.

“The concrete shingles weigh a lot, so by the time we finish the roof on the carriage house it will weigh almost three tons,” Davis said. They have also replaced all the casement windows to match the original design. The new guest parking brick lined motor court at the front door entrance will increase parking without taking away from the landmark home. Davis and Browning modified the existing garage for a larger vehicle and added a storage area. There are several other planned improvements to the estate including new central air

Paul and Mary Harmon Bryant, Averette and Julian Lackey

conditioning, underground power and a standby generator.

When Bryant finally retired, he didn’t receive an opportunity to enjoy life away from the game, if that were possible for him. He died 28 days after coaching his last game. His memory still lives on in the hearts and minds of many people in our community. The Lackey Estate is just one example.

Those interested in viewing the Lackey Estate may contact Mike Davis at 492-3991

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| June 2010 | Welcome Friends

Village Living Photo of the Month

Editor’s Note

June means it is officially summer. It’s time to relax, enjoy not having quite as hectic of a schedule, spend time with our families, and enjoy all that our town has to offer this time of year. There is a great follow up article on fly fishing this issue. This might be something new and fun to try this summer.

If you are looking for a good read at the beach, don’t miss the story on Mountain Brook’s David White and his new novel A Stroke of Genius. It would also make a great Father’s Day gift. Our cover story this month is on the new plan

Publisher’s Note

Mayor Oden presents Bobby Rahal with the key to the city.

Staff & Friends Contributing Writers

Alison Gault | Bama Hager | Hilary Ross Judy McDonald | Julia Peterson | Kari Kampakis Michael Seale | Will Hightower | Laura Canterbury

Contributing Photographers Shay Allen | Alison Gault

Publisher Dan Starnes

Editor Jennifer Gray

Creative Director

Thank you for all of the kind responses we’ve had to Village Living in the last couple of months.

It has really been a pleasure getting this venture going.

If you send us material or ideas, and we are unable to publish it in the issue you had hoped, please forgive us. We are working hard in the editorial process to make sure we use everything that we can.

Sometimes we can’t include it all.

One thing that will affect all of us living in Mountain Brook, is the flood mitigation project. It is scheduled to take place in three stages in Mountain Brook Village starting this month. You should see the construction begin before the July issue.

However, we will publish a more detailed

for Lane Parke. There will be a public hearing on June 14 for the new and much anticipated proposal for the development in Mountain Brook Village. The hearing will be held at Mountain Brook Junior High in order to accommodate the crowd.

Many of our Mountain Brook High School alumni are holding reunions this summer. On page ten, you will find notices of a few of the class reunions. If your class has a reunion planned for the summer, please email me the information to include in our July issue.

Since school is out for summer, our Schoolhouse Section will be much smaller in our summer issues. We would love to include stories and pictures from local Vacation Bible Schools and camps. Please send your submissions to me by the 15th of the month for the next month’s issue. article in the July issue on this topic. It is my understanding that the third phase of the project scheduled to begin in January will be the biggest.

We view this paper as a community service first. It is mailed to every home in Mountain Brook and some periphery areas the first weekend of each month. If you live in Mountain Brook or in English Village above Mountain Brook in 35223, or other bordering neighborhoods in 35223, 35213,or 35243, and do not receive the paper in the mail the first weekend of the month, I need to know about it. First, check with your spouse, children, or anyone else who may have brought in the mail to make sure you didn’t miss it, then call me at 313-1780 and leave a voicemail. Or you can e-mail me your address at dan@villagelivingonline. com to let me know you haven’t received it. I will make sure that you get a copy.

Thanks for reading and thanks for all of the great ideas and support.

Dan

Announcing the first annual Village Living Lake Lovers Photo Contest Calling all lake lovers. It’s time for you to capture the action! We want to see your best lake photos. There will be winners from each of four categories. They will be;

Best action photo

(skis, wakeboard, knee boards, tubes, etc.)

Best kid photo Best pet photo Best fishing photo

(show us your lunkers)

Best group photo

To enter, e-mail your photos in a jpeg file to feedback@villagelivingonline.com.

You can also mail them to: Village Living P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL, 35253 Deadline for entries is August 9, 2010. We will publish the winners in the September issue as well as post them on our Facebook page and on our website.

Keith McCoy

Published by Village Living LLC

Sales and Distribution Dan Starnes Angela Morris

Journalism Intern Erica Breen

Contact Information: Village Living #4 Office Park Circle, Suite 314-A Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 dan@VillageLivingOnline.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: Jennifer@VillageLivingOnline.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 Legals: Village Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Village Living is designed to inform the Mountain Brook community of area school, faith, family and community events. Information in Village Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Village Living. 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) 370-0732 or by email.

Pet Photo

Action Shot

Please remember to be cautious at all times, and be careful on the lake. Village Living does not encourage or condone dangerous or reckless activity.

Bama Folsom Hager, Ph.D. is a contributing writer from Brookwood Forest Elementary PTO. She grew up in Hoover and lives in Brookwood Forest with her husband and 2 children.

Bama has served on the publicity committee for BWF Elementary PTO for several years and chairs a committee for the Mountain Brook Junior High PTO. She is a Clinical Child Psychologist, an autism advocate and works part time at the Autism Society of Alabama. She is looking forward to summer vacation.

Laura Canterbury grew up moving around the United States and Europe with her family (Laura’s father is a retired Air Force General), and now calls Mountain Brook home after meeting her husband, William, at Auburn. They have two daughters.

Laura worked at FOX6 News and at HealthSouth handling their media relations. She has since worked at PORTICO Magazine and freelanced for other publications. Laura enjoys anything outdoors. Running, biking, swimming, hiking, golfing and skiing. She just recently ran the Boston Marathon for the first time in 3:30:49. She also loves to cook, read, play with her girls, travel, shop, play with her girls, walk the dogs, write and play with her girls!

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Village Living | June 2010 |

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| June 2010 | Village Flavor

ONE FOR YOU. ONE FOR ME. Bambinelli’s Café Italiano | 2301 Cahaba Road Mountain Brook, AL 35213 205-871-2423

www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com

2841 Cahaba Road • 879-5277 • Mon-Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-4

For the Love of Food

By Christiana Roussel If you and I get to spend any time together at all, you will quickly learn one thing about me: I love food. I love to eat good food. I love to talk about meals I’ve had or I’m going to have. I like to read about food and now I love to write about it as well.

The other thing you might quickly learn about me is that I can be pretty darn lazy.

So, when I set about creating a great meal, I want to get a lot out of the effort. I believe in cooking many things at once and then using those dishes in several meals. In the following menu, you’ll get one incredible weeknight supper, plus leftovers for several other meals.

Roasted Lamb Haricots Vert Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote Many people seem to think of lamb only at Easter but a good roast lamb is welcomed any time. Done well, it is tender and savory and full of fabulous flavor. I especially like it when the juices run into my potatoes and up against the green beans. The flavors fall into one another and for a few minutes, everything seems right with the world. Okay, perhaps that’s a little much but did I mention I love food?

Roasted Lamb Serves 6 -8, with leftovers

Ingredients: 1 5-pound boneless leg of lamb 1 head of garlic, cloves separated and peeled ¼ cup olive oil 2 lemons a handful of fresh herbs (oregano, basil, parsley) salt and pepper Directions: 1) Remove the lamb from its packaging and rinse and dry it. Using a sharp knife, make about 10 or 12 slits all over. Slice 5 or 6 cloves of garlic lengthwise and insert them into the slits. Use kitchen twine to tie the roast up. Keeping the meat together and uniform in thickness ensures that it cooks evenly. Your effort doesn’t have to look pretty or fancy – it just needs to be efficient. At this point, you may wrap the roast in plastic wrap and refrigerate over night or proceed directly to the next step.

2) Make a lemon-herb paste for the lamb.

Start by zesting the lemons using a fine grater or a designated zesting tool.

Next, slice the lemons and squeeze out the juice; save some of the pulp as well, if possible. Mince the herbs of your choice until you have about ¼ to 1/3 cup; mince the remaining cloves of garlic. Combine the zest, juice, pulp, herbs and garlic in a glass bowl. Using the back of a fork, mash the ingredients

together to make a paste. Drizzle in the olive oil and continue to mix until everything is thoroughly combined.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Note: This is more easily done in the bowl of a mini-food processor (remember, I told you I was lazy!)

3) Slather the roast with this savory paste and let it rest while you preheat the oven to 350º F. Place the lamb on a lightly greased rack in a roasting pan and bake for 2 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 140º F. Remove lamb from pan; cover loosely with aluminum foil and let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

4) Keep the oven to roast the potatoes.

Potatoes are a natural pairing with the lamb. So, while the lamb is resting, toss the potatoes in to roast.

Rosemary Fingering Potatoes

Warning! Please save plenty of room in your stomach for a large, delightful meal at Bambinelli’s in English Village.

Bambinelli’s is the family owned and operated sister restaurant to Salvatore’s Pizza and Pasta, which is located in Hoover and Inverness. The family’s 25 years of service to the Birmingham area are evident in every bite.

Bambinelli’s promotes a family atmosphere and welcomes all children, even those furry creatures with four legs.

The patio makes a wonderful hangout for those with paws and their owners.

But, make sure you look cute because the owners love to take pictures of their patrons with their pets. You may very well find your picture on the wall at your next visit.

The dining experience itself was superb and worth discussing. I must, however, write this review backwards because the cheesecake was anything but typical. The desserts are made at the restaurant, and they are obviously made with the love of a grandmother. The cheesecake was light and fluffy with a fresh cream sauce dripping from the top down the sides. The crust was just buttery enough to bond the crumbs together and just fresh enough to crumble perfectly. My friend had the chocolate shell cannoli, which also received rave reviews; but I spent more time guarding my cheesecake from wandering forks at the table than worrying about the experience of the others.

The meal itself was great, but I am glad that we ordered some to-go boxes and saved room for dessert. Had I eaten, everything on my plate, I would have not only missed dessert, but I may have been unable to breath. At the table, we ordered three entrees: Italian sausage, peppers, and onions parmigiana, Meatballs with angel hair pasta, and Shrimp scampi over

by staff writer

Restaurant Showcase

angel hair pasta. Everybody raved about their choices. The meal had very little conversation because everyone was much more concerned with the mounds of great food than the company at the table.

The parmigiana had a mixture of green peppers, onions, sausage and marinara sauce all smothered and baked with cheese. The thick cheese surrounding every bite made for an absolutely delightful meal. To the side of this baked magnificence was angel hair pasta with marinara. Once I had that slightly decorated with freshly grated parmesan cheese, I mixed many of my bites with the pasta and was anything but disappointed. I may have found this to be so wonderful and seem so fresh because of the owners’ use of local farm fresh organic ingredients in their dishes.

Bambinelli’s professes to have one of the South’s best wine lists, and their website is currently advertising “wine down summer,” in which all bottles of wine are ½ off every day. With wonderful appetizers such as the stuffed mushrooms and the mozzarella caprese salad, a great wine selection with less than retail prices, and the relaxed environment, Bambinelli’s will make a fantastic place to relax after a hectic day at work.

Grab your family and your friends and head to English Village for a great, big plate of Italian food that won’t break the bank.

Bambinelli’s is definitely a lot of bang for your buck.

Ingredients: 2 pounds fingerling potatoes 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons olive oil salt and pepper Directions: 1) Wash and dry the potatoes. To cook evenly, the potatoes should be uniform in size. Slice the potatoes so that each piece is roughly an inch thick.

2) Toss the potatoes with the rosemary and olive oil and spread in a single layer in a large roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper.

3) Roast for 20 - 25 minutes.

While the potatoes roast and the lamb rests, blanch the haricots vert (fancy name for pencil-thin green beans).

Haricots Vert

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.

Add the green beans (about 1 pound) and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water immediately. This will stop the cooking process and keep the bean bright green and slightly crisp.

This dessert can be made in advance and chilled in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It also freezes well, if you happen to have any left over.

Strawberry Rhubarb Compote See LOVE

OF FOOD, PAGE 6

Everything’s Coming Up Rosés!

Ah, yes, Spring has melted into Summer now, and the hotter it gets, the better a dry rosé tastes! From salads to seafoods, cold pastas to grilled veggies to barbeque, a cool, crisp and fruity rosé can be just the thing.

Only a few years ago, we were begging people just to try a rosé. Guess all those years when sweet, innocuous rose imposters dominated the American market had given rosé a bad name in this country. Yet all over France, Italy and Spain, rosé wines and summer weather are like two peas in a pod – why, on a summer afternoon, you half expect the whole café to break into song and dance… ‘‘you can’t have one, you can’t have one… without the o-o-other...”

Here in Alabama, with our heat and humidity, a chilled rosé is often the perfect alternative to the awkward choice - “red or white?”

Rosés will run the gamut of color and flavor depending on grape varieties, climate and winemakers intentions. On the

light, minerally side are those from Bandol (Domaine Tempier & Pradeaux) Cassis (Chateau Magdelene & Bagnol) and more general areas of Provence, Cotes de Ventoux and Languedoc (Cht. Peyrassol, Fontsainte & Poujol come to mind) as well as Pinot Noir-based wines from the Loire Valley and domestic versions.

There are rich, dark rosés made from Malbec in Argentina, Syrah and Grenache Syrah blends in Australia and the Southern Rhone, Sangiovese in Italy, and so on. Some are so dark we can’t decide if they are actually rosé or a light chill-able red – but who cares, really?! For what’s in a name? A rosé by any other name would smell and taste as great!

So if you haven’t already, why not take a walk on the wild side and try a rosé or two – better yet, get yourself a beautiful, twelve bottle rosé bouquet!

Richard Robinson Wine Therapist The Wine Shop @ Western Mountain Brook

Village Spotlight

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Beverly Ruff Antiques and Linens 2417 Canterbury Road 205-871-7872

| byErica Breen

Business Spotlight

| June 2010 |

Constance Longworth Collection

Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm Mountain Brook now has the lovely pleasure of finding a new antique store on Canterbury Road. Antique lover Beverly Ruff has moved her treasured antique store from Cahaba Heights to our very own neighborhood. When you walk in the door you are greeted by a soft fragrance and charming vintage antiques and maybe even a standard poodle?

Beverly Ruff Antiques and Linens specializes in antique frames, unique lamps and vintage linens, and hand painted mats for frames. Many of the lamps you will find are hand-crafted and have exquisite details such as leaves, flowers or a vintage lamp shade. You can also find beautiful hand painted mats for frames, Ms. Ruff’s favorites are ones with flowers and leaves.

You are guaranteed to leave with an item that has never been seen before and will truly add glamour to a room.

Ms. Ruff wants customers to walk into a beautiful, and very “put-together” store. Antiques are spaced and placed evenly around the store in a creative way that makes for an interesting shopping experience. You will never have to “dig” to find a special antique at this store.

Ms. Ruff has loved antiques since she was a child and loves working with them.

To her, antiques give a room history and a welcoming personality. Different antiques will offer variety and character to a room.

This is why she does not specialize in one “era” or type of antique. She loves being able to offer different types of antiques so any customer can find that special piece to put in their home.

“Mountain Brook is booming, and this place is a better deal and more ideal location, says Ruff.”

While Cahaba Heights is a great area, Ms. Roth feels that

Hannon Davidson, Suzan Doidge, Beverly Ruff, Mayor Oden

she will have more traffic and customers in Mountain Brook. Personally, she also just loves being in the Mountain Brook area. To her, being able to walk down to Starbucks every morning to grab a coffee before opening the shop is just ideal. The area is very charming and has a vintage feel and she feels this is the perfect place for an antique store.

Having been in the antique business for five years, Ms. Ruff and her friend Nancy McClendon have a great eye for spotting unique finds. They both have complimenting tastes that help make the store very unique and appealing. Ms. McClendon currently has a section of the store called “Antiquities” for her own take on unique antiques.

No matter what type of antique you are looking for you are sure to find it here.

Anytime you come in you will be welcomed by a “put together” relaxing shop and Ms. Ruff and one of her four treasured standard poodles.

Coming to Mountain Brook This September

F

ine Furniture. Unique Chandeliers. Decorator Rugs. Upscale Candles. Unique Gifts. In-home Design Service. Window Treatments and Bedding. Longworth Collection opened its doors in July 2007, and since then, has evolved into the premier upper-end designer businesses on Highway 280. Aside from the in-store selection, owner Constance Longworth is able to order items from many companies including Drexel Heritage, Lexington, American Drew, Lea Childrens, Bradburn, and Pulaski Furniture Companies, to name a few.

A one stop shop for everything for the home, with a guarantee that you will love all you either buy from the store or order. If not, Constance will take it back and go back to the drawing board and find the perfect item. “I want you to love everything you purchase,” says Constance.

Constance Longworth Collection

5426 Highway 280 Suite 6 • The Terrace @ Greystone

437-9887

Nancy McClendon

“Your rock and stone experts”

402-2110

View hundreds of additional photos of our past work on our website:

www.OutdoorLivingAreas.net

• Patios & Walls • Outdoor Kitchens • Outdoor Fireplaces & Fire pits • Arbors and Pergolas Alabama G C L #43737

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| June 2010 | Village Living

LOVE OF FOOD from pg 4 Strawberry Rhubarb Compote

Fire Department Keeping Us Safe

Ingredients: 2 pounds fresh rhubarb, cleaned and sliced into 1”thick pieces.

1 cup vanilla sugar* 1 pint fresh strawberries, rinsed and hulled Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350º F. 2) Toss rhubarb pieces with the vanilla sugar. Pour into a large Pyrex dish and cover with foil. Bake for one hour.

3) Remove from oven and stir in strawberries. Cover and let cool.

4) Pour a few tablespoons of compote over small bowls of vanilla ice cream for the perfect ending to a perfect meal. * Fill a 2 cup jar with sugar and a whole vanilla bean. The bean will infuse the sugar with its flavor. Keep adding sugar to the jar as you use it to renew your supply.

In my book, nothing beats a refrigerator stocked with great leftovers. Knowing how to use them will ensure your efforts (and food!) don’t go to waste: • Make a tasty salad of butter lettuces with sliced lamb and potatoes and haricots vert – very Mediterranean with a lemon herb vinaigrette and feta cheese.

• Try lamb sandwiches on crusty ciabatta, slathered with mayonnaise that’s been kicked up with a little freshly grated horseradish or some traditional mint jelly.

• Put together a rustic Greek potato salad with roasted potatoes, tossed with some fresh feta, cherry tomatoes and chopped Kalamata olives.

• Use any leftover compote as a topping for Saturday morning waffles or swirled into yogurt for a quick smoothie.

Chief Ezekiel and some of the MBFD’s 63 firefighters stand in front of one of the departments new ambulances.

By Michael Seale Some reports have revealed that the single most stressful occupation is a firefighter. And considering the 24-hour shifts, the crises involved in the everyday workings of the job and the fact that just a few seconds could mean the difference in life and death, perhaps that ranking is warranted.

Mountain Brook Fire Chief Robert Ezekiel agrees. “It’s a stressful job,” he said.

“You basically work 56 hours a week. But it is a job that you do because you love to do it.”

Chief Ezekiel has been in the fire service for 34 years. He started his career

with the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service as a firefighter in 1973 and worked his way through the ranks to Chief Officer.

He accepted the opportunity to serve as Fire Chief for the City of Mountain Brook in 1993.he said he is excited about the future at the Mountain Brook Fire Department for a variety of reasons, as there have been and will be several improvements in the department.

“We recently purchased two new ambulances,” Ezekiel said. “These are of better quality, are going to last longer and fill our needs a lot better.” One of the ambulances is housed at the main station in Crestline and the other is at the station on Old Leeds Road.

Some may not realize all of the services that the department provides – including ambulance service and paramedic service – on top of fighting fires. “The majority of our people are cross-trained as firefighters and paramedics,” Ezekiel said. “We respond to about 2,000 emergencies a year, and there are about 75 to 80 fires a year in the city.”

That means that the other calls are not fire related. In addition to fire suppression and emergency medical assistance and transport, the MBFD also provides rescue service (the MBFD are trained and equipped for a variety of rescue situations); hazardous materials response, inspections, public education and fire investigation, among other services.

And all of these services are performed using one of the fastest response times in the state. “Response time is everything” Ezekiel said. “We now use a pre-alert system that basically gets us out of the building and on our way before the vehicle is dispatched. We feel it saves us about 30 seconds, which can mean the difference in life or death. Think about how long 30 seconds is. That’s a long time when you are thinking about how a fire spreads or how long someone is not breathing.”

Ezekiel said the pre-alert system, which comes from a new software system utilized by the department, prevents emergency vehicles from having to drive recklessly through the city to get to the location in a timely manner. “You are not going to save time by driving recklessly and endangering the public,” he said. “You get it by reaction time.”

The MBFD protects 13 square miles of residential and commercial establishments (approximately 8,000 homes) from three stations. No fewer than 14 firefighters are on duty at all times.

Local author releases fourth book

By Jennifer Gray

Mountain Brook native David H. White has published his fourth book, this one just in time for Father’s Day. A Stroke of Genius is a work of fiction that focuses on a golfer named Billy Scott. Scott’s dream is to play on the PGA Tour and to make it big. The story details his journey -- the obstacles that he faces and the lessons he learns through his relationships with the men in his life, his grandfather and father.

White’s love of golf and respect for the skill it takes to make it professionally drove his desire to tell the story of his main character, Billy Scott. His research for the novel included spending time with the golfers on the California Mini Tour.

The golfers on this tour are struggling to climb the ladder of the pro ranks. They are chasing their dream of making it to the PGA Tour one day. “These guys shoot 66 and are in the third tier of golfing. That just goes to show how incredibly hard it is to make the Tour,” said White.

Focusing on the relationships Scott has with his father and grandfather, two very different individuals, White uses real life golfers and courses in his story.

“The biggest lesson that Billy Scott learns is humility and the ability to handle what comes your way,” White said. White’s own journey from athlete to writer is an interesting story in itself.

White grew up playing and loving sports. He played football, baseball and ran track at Episcopal High School, the boarding school he attended in Virginia.

After graduating from high school, White attended Vanderbilt, where he graduated with a degree in European History and as he says, “a minor in Phi Delta Theta.” After

David White

jobs with the Reagan-Bush campaign and O’Neal Steel selling aluminum he decided that he wanted to do something that better suited his strengths and interests -- sports and writing.

White says that like his character, Billy Scott, relationships played an important part in his pursuit of sports as well. His family and coaches encouraged his love of sports. His father, whom he was close to, passed away when White was 15. “He was a wonderful, soft spoken guy who was modest and not overly intense.” He was always there supporting David along with his mother.

After his father’s death, it was his coaches and teachers who really encouraged him in sports.

White says that his track coach, Evan Male, was especially encouraging. White had been struggling a bit in track but his coach maintained his encouragement of White. During a track meet the team was participating in a relay race. They were

behind and Coach Male’s encouragement helped White to give it his all and he sprinted his entire leg of the race. White said that his coach helped him to find an event he could do well, but challenged him at the same time.

In 1986, David moved to Tuscaloosa and began working at a local radio station reporting on University of Alabama football and basketball. Although he loved interviewing the coaches and players -Wimp Sanderson and Bill Curry among them -- he really was drawn to the human interest and relationship aspects of the stories he was covering. “I really wanted to start telling the stories on a deeper level than you can in broadcasting,” White said.

“Telling those stories and the challenges of meeting newspaper deadlines was what drew me to sports writing.”

This led David to Chapel Hill, where he covered sports at the University of North Carolina for the Carolina Blue. Next he moved to the Durham Morning Herald covering both high school and college sports. Returning to Birmingham in 1990, he worked for the Birmingham News, and the Birmingham Post-Herald until 2005. While working at the Over the Mountain Journal, David was awarded the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s “Best Feature Story” award.

It was during this time that White decided that he was ready for a new challenge.

Editor Bobby Frasbee encouraged him to try writing a book. In 2004, after traveling 4,500 miles around Alabama and Georgia interviewing coaches, White published his first book, Leadership Lessons for Life. The book became a regional best seller “that examined 46

of the top high school football coaches in the state of Alabama.” One coach that particularly stuck out to White was Waldon Tucker of Fayette County. Despite an amazing career of winning (299-123-3), “the coach was focused on the future. He didn’t care about the past. He was looking at the eighth graders that were coming up, and talking about the potential and talent he saw there” White said.

Two other books followed, Shorty: A Life in Sports, a biography about high school football coach George “Shorty” White, and Man of Character, White’s first novel, a story of an inner city basketball coach and his struggle to “build a winning program on and off the court.”

David is currently working on his fifth book and spending time with his wife Beth and two daughters, Isabelle and Fairbanks. He is also an avid golfer who enjoys working on his golf game. White chronicles all things related to sports on his blog at www.davidhwhitejr.com.

“These guys shoot 66 and are in the third tier of golfing. That just goes to show how incredibly hard it is to make the Tour”

A Stroke of Genius by David White

Village Living | June 2010 |

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

LifeAct ually

By Kari Kampakis

Dreams: Cracking the Shell of Secrecy It seems to me dreams and addictions have one thing in common: The first step is admitting them.

In all seriousness, what would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? This question is tacked to a corkboard in my cousin’s mudroom, alongside Christmas cards and special mementoes. Every time I visit her house, I read it.

We all know it takes GUTS to admit a dream. None of us want to embarrass ourselves—much less our kids or spouse.

Once an ambition escapes its secret hiding place inside us, a skeptic snaps to attention: What if I’m not good enough? What if no one buys? What if I post on Facebook and don’t even get a thumb’s up?

What if, what if, what if? These words are machine guns in our head, shooting down ideas before we can see if they have two legs to stand on. Whenever they cripple me, I try to remember a point made

by Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the things you did.”

A number of people have asked me how I came to be involved with Village Living. After telling the story a few times, I realized the opportunity arose because I shared my dream with friends. Had I not, this column would belong to someone else.

Unlike many hobbies, writing is a quiet passion, done behind closed doors and easy to keep under wraps. Four years ago, I decided to parlay my experience as a corporate writer into fiction. Shortly into my first novel, I got hooked. I knew then I eventually wanted to spin stories for a living.

Only two hitches stood in my way: one, it’s very hard to break into publishing (especially for a “non-celebrity”), and two, my timing stunk. Small children are not conducive to the art of writing!

Nevertheless, I made up my mind.

Even if it took five, seven, or ten years— oftentimes the case to get the learning curve down—I wanted to be a published author.

At first only my husband knew of this goal, which I pursued at night and in stolen moments. Over time, I opened up to friends and family—confessed the real reason why I couldn’t meet for lunch, or go on a trip.

I’m working on a novel, and it sucks up all my free time! Laying the cards on the table was a relief, and the instant cheer team boosted my confidence.

Fast-forward several years, and one of my friends—Jennifer Gray—is named editor of Village Living. Aware of my writing

pursuits and background, she calls me out of the blue to explain a new community paper and offer me a column. Immediately sold on the concept, I jump at the chance.

I’ve always wanted a forum like this, and the instant gratification helps fill a void as I work on a lengthy novel with no guarantee of publication.

My point is this: Good things can fall in your lap when you make yourself vulnerable. By cracking the shell of secrecy, you start a chain reaction that can lead to unexpected opportunities down the road.

Hone your skills now and you’ll be ready.

Mountain Brook is chock-full of women with talent—many already pursuing a dream or innovative idea. A few examples I’d like to applaud: Katie Crommelin and Betsy Byars, designers of Charles and Alice children’s loungewear, carried in over 200 boutiques nationwide—from Marguerite’s in Mountain Brook village to Kitson in Los Angeles. The line’s custom fabric is designed by Jane Timberlake Cooper, and all items are made in the USA. Betsy Pennington, currently in prerequisite classes for Nursing School; and Mindi Keller, pursuing a Masters of Education to teach math.

Allie Black, founder of Wholesome by Allie, a new service that helps families eat and live more healthfully. Based on years of research, Wholesome empowers busy moms to make smart, affordable changes at home, in the grocery, and on the go. Check out www.wholesomebyallie.com.

Shannon Riley, who turned a chemistry background into One Stop Environmental, an environmental clean-up company that serves federal agencies. Recently named Birmingham’s 10th largest woman-owned business and the city’s third fastest growing company, One Stop started as a way for Shannon to have the flexibility she wanted to raise a family.

What about you? Are you harboring a specific interest? Perhaps you’d like to lead a Bible study, teach Pilates, or break into photography. Maybe now is not the season, but your day will come, and in the meantime I hope you’ll tell a trusted friend or two. After all, you never know where word of mouth may lead you.

Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mtn. Brook mom of four with a background in PR, writing, and photography. If you have feedback of story/ column ideas, contact her at kampakis@charter.net.

St. Luke’s Day School Hosts Lemonade Stand

Children from Saint Luke’s Day School hosted a lemonade stand at the church on May 18th. The sale raised over $1300. They are donating the entire amount

(split equally) to Christ Episcopal Church in Albertville and St. George’s Episcopal Church in Nashville who both have been affected by natural disasters.

THE DIAMOND DEALER

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| June 2010 | Village Living

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Juvenille Diabetes Night of Hope Gala The Alabama Chapter for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation hosted its 9th annual Night of Hope Gala on Saturday, April 24 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center . This event is a night of celebration for many JDRF families and friends. The theme was “Cirque du Cure” Some of the highlights included a cocktail reception, silent and live auction, a seated dinner, performance by guest celebrity speaker and international diabetes advocate 1999 Miss America Nicole Johnson as well as Cirque performers.

Gala Chairs: Libby Greene and Mark Kennamer; Gala Corporate Chair: Tom Twitty; Gala Light of Hope Honorees- The Crouse Family of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Gala Living and Giving Honoree- Margaret and Holman Head of Birmingham, Alabama.

Others in attendance included:

David and Karla Fields, Craft and Cleo O’Neal, Heather and Phillip McWane, Dr. Jack and Beth Schaeffer, Marcie and Charles DeBardeleben, Bill and Walker Jones, Bernice Barstein, Carla and Loyd Roberson, Steve and Aimee Serra, Ruffner and Penny Page, and JDRF Board President, Dr. Brooks Vaughan and wife, Libba.

The Alabama Chapter for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation-, JDRF, is the worldwide leader for research to cure type 1 diabetes. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. Over the last eight years, the Alabama Chapter Night of Hope Gala has raised nearly $5 million for diabetes research.

50th Anniversary Ball of Roses to be held Seventy young women will be presented at the annual Ball of Roses, sponsored by the Ballet Guild of Birmingham, on Saturday, June 5 at the Country Club of Birmingham, East Room with the presentation beginning at 9:00 p.m.

The First Ball of Roses was held in August of 1961. Eleven young women from Birmingham were presented.

Each year, the ball is sponsored by the Ballet Guild of Birmingham, which is an invitational organization of young women dedicated to supporting the ballet in Birmingham through fund raising and volunteer work. Founded in 1959, the Ballet Guild was organized to promote and foster development of ballet in Birmingham in addition to raising funds for its support.

Since its inception, the Ballet Guild has raised more than $1 million for the Ballet.

This year, the Ball of Roses celebrates its 50th anniversary and continues to serve as a vital fund raiser for the Alabama Ballet.

The decor will feature enlarged black and white photographs from the past centering around the presentees of 2010. Carole Sullivan of Lagniappe Designs will be handling the floral decorations for the ball.

The evening begins with a Men’s Committee Dinner, a private dinner and fundraiser at the Country Club of Birmingham, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

A formal presentation in the East Room follows at 9:00 p.m. with a nine piece band with horns, Bobby and The Aristocats providing music for the guests. Presentees will wear pastel gowns with opera length white gloves and in most cases are presented by their fathers.

Ball Chair is Liz Read, Co-Chair is Liz Rich, Men’s Committee Dinner Chair is Ellen Faust, Co-Chair Allene Neighbors, Men’s Committee Chair is Mary Bradley Anderson, Co-Chair is Maggie Baggett, Decorations Chair is Corinne Wood, CoChair Melanie Hennessey, Special Guests’ Chair is Betts Johnson, Presentations Chair is Lelie Wright, Ball Publicity Chair is Sara Hood Photography Chair is Barrow Kettig Invitations Chair is Grace Kipp Reservations Chair is Camille Epps Charity Chair is Rachael Barnhart Take Down Chair is Catharine Newman Ball Administrator is Katie Langley

Back Row (L to R)- Callie Davis, Laura Adams Jackson, Laura McCraney, Camille Coons Front Row (L to R)- Caroline Nall Couch, Grace Garrett, Margaret Nelle Krebs, Leslie Ralls Allen

Back Row (L to R)- Janet Matheson, Frances Margaret Chenoweth, Lillian Elizabeth Askins Front Row (L to R)- Elizabeth Ragland, Gail Brown, Anne Dalton Weber, Cruse Nolen Bevill, Lilla Hain Goodwyn

Susan and David Silverstein

Betsy Koepsel, Tom Twitty, Marcia Twitty and Bill Koepsel Back Row (L to R)- Morgan White, Rebecca O’Neal, Mary Catherine Sharp, Leigh Wright Front Row (L to R)- Claire Eagan, Amanda Agricola, Powell Jemison Sims

Candlelight Ball Honors 10 Grade Girls th

Back Row (L to R)- Elizabeth Barrett Price, Emily Tarpley, Caroline Holman, Margaret Kloess Front Row (L to R)- Molly Silverstein, Sally Margaret Brooke, Catherine Elizabeth Hurley, Melissa Caroline McCrary

Back Row (L to R)- Caroline Howard, Mary Elizabeth White, Ann Evans Andrews, Joyce Ratliff Front Row (L to R)- Sarah Howard, Lauren Reynolds, Sara Claire Martin, Brooking Pritchard, Hastings Crockard

from left to right - Wesley Shaw, Sara Dodson, Virginia Farlow, Elizabeth Coleman, Catherine Smith

One hundred twenty Mountain Brook 10th grade girls and their escorts were presented at the Candlelight Ball May 8th at the Cahaba Grand. The location was decorated by Robert Logan of Backstage Florist. The presentees and their dates enjoyed dinner beforehand and dancing after dinner to the much-loved band, 24/7.

Kay Grisham was chairman for the event, Susan Alison and Norita Murray were co-chairs. Other mothers serving on

the ball committees were Susie Abbot, Sue Abele, Helen Catherine Smith, Andrea Hawkins, Elizabeth Poynor, Fontaine Pope, Lynn Wilson, Phyllis Farrar, Lisa Burton, Allison Brown, Margie Gray, Helen Drennen, Jeannie Dodson, Paula Henry, Mimi Hobbs, Marilyn Ingram, Nancy Martin, Cindy Shaw, Susan Boston, Sally Mackin, Lissa Tyson, Kimberly Rodgers, Susan Farlow and Brooke Coleman.

Not pictured:

Amy Ascherman, Catherine Bowen Robinson Bell, Adele Burton, Mary Claire Bushnell, Margaret Claire Cassady, Charlotte St. Clair Drennen, Brooke Drinkard, Taylor Garrett, Dorothy Monnish Grenier, Mary Catherine Hawley, Morgan Henry, Jane Latham Elizabeth Hodges, Kathryn Hudak, Kelly Ireland, Margaret Cason Jordan, Margaret Kathleen Kendrick, Sarah Marie Maddox, Margaret Tanner McKinney, Cillie McVay, Frances Morton, Carleton Rafield, Marguerite Rowe, Emily Sharp, Elizabeth Palmer Sherer, Joslyn Smith, Natalie Ruth Summers, Grace Tillman, Anne-Allen Welden, Lacey Whatley, and Cecil Wright.

Village Living | June 2010 |

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

How Lane Parke Will Benefit Mountain Brook And how we learned a thing or two by listening to the community.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF MOUNTAIN BROOK Last summer, we brought a plan for redeveloping Park Lane Apartments and the Mountain Brook Shopping Center to the Mountain Brook Village Design Review Committee and the Mountain Brook Planning Commission.

It was reviewed favorably by the Design Review Committee and approved unanimously by the Planning Commission.

Since then, however, residents of Mountain Brook have expressed a variety of concerns. As a result of these concerns, city officials asked us to consider revisions to our plan, including scale, height, density, parking and architecture, among others.

We took their comments and concerns to heart and the result is frankly a better plan. For instance, we have replaced the meeting hotel with a smaller, ‘sleeping’ inn. We have reduced the number of floors, lowered the overall height from 72' to 56' and minimized meeting and banquet facilities.

This boutique inn is designed to serve the local community and become a centerpiece for Mountain Brook Village.

In short, we’ve listened.

We’re grateful to City leaders and citizens who have told us they do not oppose redevelopment, so long as it’s done in a way that is consistent with the Village. And that’s precisely what we are trying to accomplish.

In the weeks ahead, we will continue putting our plan before the citizens of Mountain Brook and, ultimately, the City Council for approval. Please take a few minutes to review the model (at City Hall), to browse our website to learn more and to download the independent studies about Mountain Brook.

We’d also love to hear from you – both pro and con – so send us an Email and ask any questions you might have.

We think that anyone who considers our improved plan with an open mind will find it benefits the Village and the City.

Rele and John Evans ~ For EVSON, INC

Our amended approach to Lane Parke will: H O NOR TH E TR ADI TI O N S O F MOU N TAI N BR OOK with architecture and design that is consistent with the special character of the Village and the Master Plan.

G E NERA TE M I LL I O N S O F ADDI T I ON AL TAX D OL LARS EACH YE AR including an estimated $1 million per year for our schools.

A V OID F U RT H E R O BS O LE S C EN CE AN D D E CAY in the V il l a ge. The simple fact is the status quo is not sustainable. Buildings from the 40s and 50s don’t project the image we need and won’t attract the caliber of businesses we’d like in the Village in the future.

UPD ATE T H E RETAI L O FFE RI NGS available to residents, with new boutique retail establishments—NO big box chains.

INC RE AS E BUS IN E S S FOR M E RCHAN TS, not only in Mountain Brook Village but in Crestline and English Village as well.

A study commissioned by the City and released late last fall found Lane Parke is likely to bring additional business to all of the Villages and “may even stimulate opportunities for additional businesses across the Mountain Brook retail sector.”

BRE AK TR AF FIC BO TT L E N E C K S by cleaning up too many points of egress and ingress at the current Shopping Center, adding turn lanes elsewhere, and aligning traffic lanes to streamline traffic flow.

F O LLO W TH E V IL L AG E M A S T E R P LAN by using architecture that is consistent with the Village and surrounding region, by limiting buildings near Culver Road to a maximum of two stories, and by hiding parking structures within the buildings.

BE S IZED TO FI T T H E V I LL AG E and the terrain. Our amended plan better integrates with the existing Village. A new scale model of both the Village and Lane Parke is available for viewing in Mountain Brook City Hall. It illustrates, perhaps better than anything else, how Lane Parke seems as if it has evolved out of the existing Village.

IM PRO V E P AR K I N G by increasing the number of parking spaces from 248 to 1,118 once Lane Parke is complete. The amended plan features street parking just like we have in the Village now and all parking structures will be shielded by architecture.

H E LP S O L V E T H E FL O O DI N G PROBL E M . Evson Inc. has already spent more than $500,000 to assist in various ways with the current FEMA flood control project.

Mindful of the Past. Looking to the Future.

Learn more at www.LaneParke.info | If you have questions or concerns, please Email us at Questions@LaneParke.info.

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| June 2010 | Village Living

Oak Street Garden Shop cat gets name A young cat adopted Oak Street Garden Shop and Local Market in early spring and decided to make the greenhouse her new home. After taking the cat to the vet, she now has a clean bill of health.

The only thing lacking was a name. The employees at the nursery could not agree on a suitable name, so a contest was held to name the new kitty.

All of the entries were put into a hat, and Payton Flynn’s winning name Daisy - emerged. Payton is a first grader at Mountain Brook Elementary, and has been a longtime shopper at Oak Street Garden Shop and Local Market. She loves to walk through the shop and pick out flowers and vegetables for her backyard garden. She has also tasted many of her first fruits and vegetables at the Market. She was thrilled to win a generous gift card to Snoozy’s, where she is also an avid shopper.

Contest winner Payton Flynn with “Daisy” and younger brother Robert Flynn at the Garden Shop

Mountain Brook girls SHINE through dance with Lauren

By Kari Kampakis

Mountain Brook High School reunions this summer MBHS Class of 2000 Ten Year Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, July 10, 2010. For more details you can visit www.mbhs2000.com.

MBHS Class of 1990 Twenty Year Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, August 7th. For more details visit Mountain Brook High School Class of 1990 on Facebook.

MBHS Class of 1970 Fortieth Reunion is planned for July 30 & July 31, 2010. To obtain more information regarding the reunion please email mbhs1970@gmail.com.

McCain ~ Sable

Amanda Ellen McCain and Delbert James Sable, Jr., were joined in marriage on April 10, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. in the Mountain Brook Baptist Church. Dr. James D. Moebes

performed the ceremony. A reception was held at Vestavia Country Club.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Brown McCain of Mountain Brook. The groom is the son of Mr. Delbert James Sable, Sr. of Hernado Beach, FL, and the late Mrs. Peggy Coleman Sable.

The bride was given in marriage by her father. Sister-in-law Mary Kathryn Payne McCain, of Birmingham, attended the bride as matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Rebecca Buffington Beckler of Dana Point, CA, and Heather Buffington Barry of Birmingham. The groom’s niece, Megan Nicole Castro, of Hernando Beach, FL was junior bridesmaid.

Serving the groom as best man was his father, Delbert James Sable, Sr. of Hernando Beach, FL. Groomsmen were Christopher John Robinson of Holiday, FL, and Anthony Perry Piloneo of Belleair, FL. The groom’s nephew, Jacob Trevor Castro, of Hernando Beach, FL was junior groomsman. The bride’s nephew, Nathan James McCain, of Birmingham, served as ring bearer.

After a honeymoon trip to Costa Rica, the couple resides in St. Pete Beach, FL.

It may be a stretch to say Lauren Marsh arrived in this world wearing tap shoes, but no one can argue she was born to dance.

“My mom had a dance studio, so I started when I was two. All I ever wanted to do was follow in her footsteps,” Lauren says.

By the time she reached high school, Lauren—a Cherokee Bend native—was Mountain Brook’s Dorian Captain, a three year All-American at camp, and an NCA instructor. For twenty-five years, she trained all over the country, studying under talents such as Sonia Arova, Thor Sutowski, and Mandy Moore, and performing at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Orange Bowl Halftime Show, and other high-profile events.

Dance With Lauren started in 2006, when Lauren moved back to Birmingham after college graduation. Mountain Brook Community Education was looking to offer a new dance program, and she fit the bill. It was a perfect storm of talent and fate.

Known for its fun, energetic, and professional approach, Dance With Lauren has grown by leaps and bounds in a few short years. Fifty-eight children performed in the first recital; since then, the program has quadrupled in size.

“I love what I do,” Lauren says. “It’s so rewarding to help dancers reach their goals for dance teams, theater, and beyond.

Developing confidence and stage presence plays a huge role in that.”

Lauren quickly attributes the program’s success to the collaboration between her staff, Mountain Brook Community Education, and Mountain Brook Elementary, where dance classes are held.

“Without these people, and my mom, it wouldn’t be possible. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

For more information about Dance With Lauren, or next year’s registration (to be held July 26 for current students, July 27 for new students at Mountain Brook Elementary), check out www. dancewithlauren.com.

All glammed up for the Dance With Lauren Spring Recital, held May 11 at the Mountain Brook High School Auditorium, are:

(front, L to R): Olivia Little, Walton Stivender, Lizzie French, Holly Struthers, Lizzy Donald

(front, L to R): Lauren Grubbs, Mary Campbell Grant, Grace Kohler (back, L to R): Sarah Kate Crafton, Caroline Crafton

Addison Houser (front), Back: Annie LaRussa, Emma Williams, Virginia Finney

Birmingham Boys Choir auditions

The Birmingham Boys Choir is currently taking auditions for the 2010-2011 concert season. For more information, please contact Ken Berg at 803-3449 or visit the website, www.birminghamboyschoir.com.

Village Living | June 2010 |

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

LANE PARKE cover story

Elbert Jemison’s memories of the Village go back more than 80 years

shopping center beginning in 1947.

Some of the major concerns that have been voiced are over added traffic, overall scale of the project, and the blending of architecture with the rest of Mountain Brook Village.

Evson Inc. hired Historical Concepts of Peachtree City, Ga , who created a pattern book. The pattern book is a guide for identifying permissible architectural styles for the commercial district of Lane Parke.

Historical Concepts is an architectural firm with experience and emphasis on classical and traditional architecture.

Larussa pointed out that on page 26 of the new Lane Parke plan part of the description of the purpose of the pattern book states that it “has been developed in a manner that is consistent with, and expands the intent of, The Village Master Plans, The PUD zoning ordinance and the Village Overlay Standards.”

“Why do they need to expand the

intent?” she asked.

Andrew Cogar, a Partner with Historical Concepts said that when they came to Mountain Brook, they found much more than just the one architectural style, Tudor Revival , that was identified in the Village Master Plan . He says that it was a needed expansion.

“There was only a page and a half and about seven pictures in regards to guidelines for architectural style,” said Cogar. “What we found when we came over is that specifically in Mountain Brook there is a richness beyond just Tudor Revival.”

The pattern book defines four architectural styles and gives guidelines that the developers will be bound to in the construction process. It encompasses 68 pages in the Lane Parke Development plan. The pattern book provides diagrams, photos and renderings.

A scale model of the entire development sits in Mountain Brook City Hall and is available for viewing by the public. The model was built by McAlpine Tankersly Architecture of Montgomery.

The initial plan presented by Evson was for development of the entire 27 acres of their property in three phases. The new plan calls for development of only 14 acres at this time in two phases. This will leave the north end of the existing Park Lane Apartments.

Larussa notes that the PUD still covers the entire 27 acres and that the developer makes clear their plan to develop the rest of the property later.

The Evans said they want to encourage the tenants of the shopping center to move to the new space. Because of the two phases of construction, tenants will have the opportunity to move without missing one day of business.

Jeffrey Brewer of the Birmingham architecture and engineering firm of Goodwin, Mills and Cawood was part of the design team that came up with the new plan.

Lane Parke and the rest of Mountain

Brook Village are divided by Culver Road.

“We tried to emulate the features of the village on the other side of Culver Road,” Brewer said. He said they wanted to keep the village feel in the new development.

Brewer said that other than the inn, no structure in the new development is taller than grade plus two stories. He also notes that the height of the 85 room inn is capped at 56 feet, down from 72 feet in the original plan.

Brewer said that the parking structures are concealed by architecture and that they will not be noticeable. The plan calls for three new streets which the developers say will ease traffic congestion in the village.

Two of the streets, Jemison Lane and Jemison Court are an homage to Mountain Brook’s founding father. Elbert Jemison says his family should feel honored to have the streets named after them.

“When people ask if the streets are named for me, I’ll just say yes,” Jemison said jokingly.

In addition to the widening of Culver Road, Brewer said the addition of Jemison Lane will improve the flow of traffic. It cuts through the Village from Montevallo Road to Lane Park Road.

Brewer said that the traffic plan meets industry standards for managing traffic at an acceptable level.

“There have been three traffic studies done,” Brewer said. “The developers hired Skipper Consulting, then the city hired two more independent traffic studies.”

Brewer said that nine of the ingresses and egresses found in the current center have been replaced with three to produce a more orderly system.

Larussa said that Friends of Mountain Brook Villages believe that the developer underestimates the traffic and parking impact the development will have.

“When there is no parking available, longstanding businesses of decades could go out of business because their customers can’t find a place to park,” she said.

The developers point out that they are increasing the number of parking spaces

from 248 to 1,118 when construction is complete.

When asked if Rele Evans Sr. experienced any opposition to the original development of Park Lane, Rele Evans Jr. laughed. “He was too smart for that,” he said.

He added “We are not doing this development by ourselves. We are doing it with 25 experts.”

Elbert Jemison believes in the Evans’ character. He addressed the City Council last year on their behalf.

“The Evans family has meant well for the city of Mountain Brook,” Jemison said.

“The easiest thing would be for them to sell the property and retire somewhere.”

John Evans feels that a new and better plan has come from the process.

“Our amended plan is a much better plan than it was in November 2009. That is due to the input from the City and the citizens of Mountain Brook,” he said.

Cornelia Larussa doesn’t agree. “If the May 21 proposal should pass the city council, I will first be dissapointed in our city council who are there to represent the people of our community. I will be saddened at what is lost in our lifestyle.

I will be puzzled as to what is going to be put on that property because it is not defined here.”

And what would Robert Jemison Jr. think?

“Robert Jemison was a progressive thinker and not a negative guy.” said Elbert Jemison Jr. his nephew and the author of his biography. “ I think if he were here he would understand the need.”

There will be a Public Hearing on the Lane Parke project on Monday, June 14th, @ 5:30 p.m. at Mountain Brook Junior High School Auditorium. The revised PUD application along with other pertinent information is available at www.mtnbrook.org.

Friends of Mountain Brook Villages maintains a website at www.friends-of-mtnbrook.com.

Evson Inc. has a website dedicated to the project at www.laneparke.info.

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June 2010 | Sports

Village Sports Mountain Brook Athletes On The Way to Collegiate Playing Time

Carlisle Abele

By Will Hightower

Daniel Barstein

Mountain Brook, a school known for its academic scholars, is not always as well known for its athletic prowess. But the senior and junior classes at MBHS are looking to break the mold with several outstanding athletes planning on continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

The unquestionable leader of the volleyball team, senior Carlisle Abele, has signed with the University of Maryland to extend her athletic career at a power conference program. The Lady Terrapins have been down in recent years, finishing close to last in the ACC last year, but Abele merely sees this as an opportunity to create something special: “Maryland definitely expects me to be ready to play and compete for my position on the court. It is a rebuilding program so the coaches love the idea of putting a young team on the court. I can’t wait until the whole experience starts and being able to play as a freshman.”

After a stellar year of kicking for the Spartan football team, senior Daniel Barstein has decided to sign with Dartmouth to play college football. His logic in choosing colleges was not only for athletics, but also to expand his academic resume to prepare him for post-college life. The final few he considered included Alabama, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, and Stanford, but “Dartmouth was the best fit,” Barstein said. “I chose Dartmouth because it allowed me to play division one, competitive football while also getting the best education possible.“ Mountain Brook defensive lineman Wilson Love is following in his brother’s

footsteps by committing to the University of Alabama last fall. Love’s brother, Tyler, older by a year, is a backup offensive lineman for the Crimson Tide. As a three-star recruit as rated by the national recruiting sites, Wilson was a prize commitment for Coach Nick Saban and the staff in Tuscaloosa.

Two junior Mountain Brook golfers have already signed with SEC schools to play golf at the collegiate level. Tom Lovelady and Stewart Jolly lead a dominant class of juniors into next season, already knowing where they will compete in college. Coach Benny Eaves commented, “We are very happy for those guys. I expect we may have a few more being recruited in the next few months.”

Lovelady committed to the University of Alabama earlier this year. But the accolades began coming years before the signing. As a freshman, Lovelady won the individual 6A Alabama state championship, and finished in a tie for third as a sophomore. With another top three finish this year, colleges around the southeast had their eye on the talented golfer. But Lovelady said the process of deciding didn’t take long: “I chose Alabama because that’s where I have always wanted to go and I have good friends going to play there. Also, the coaches are fun to be around.”

But Lovelady’s pre-college career isn’t over yet; he plans on competing in several tournaments this year. “As far as this summer I have a lot of tournaments. I am going to Arizona when school is out. I am also going to North Carolina, Arkansas, Minnesota, Mobile, and hopefully I qualify

for a huge amateur tournament at Shoal Creek in mid-July.”

Jolly has similarly committed early, deciding earlier this year that he will play college golf at Louisiana State University (LSU). After solid years as a freshman and sophomore, Jolly began thinking over where to go for college. He says a big factor that started his interest in LSU was his friend Smylie Kaufman, who is a senior golfer at Vestavia High School who had already decided to go to Baton Rouge.

“When I went to visit I really liked the campus and their facilities were incredible.

The coaches were extremely nice and I really liked them. It just seemed like a great fit for me and I really liked what they were doing with their golf program,” Jolly said.

“After I visited I was pretty sure that is where I wanted to go. Alabama, Auburn, UAB, Georgia Tech, and Vanderbilt were

the other colleges near the top of my list” The cross country/track program has produced several elite runners that are continuing their career at the next level.

Layton Dorsett and Joey Bemowski are running on scholarships in state, and Evan Kendrick will walk-on to run. Dorsett is going on scholarship to Samford University, while Bemowski will be on scholarship at University of Alabama at Huntsville to extend his running career. Kendrick will walk on at the University of Alabama.

Dorsett, the fastest long-distance runner on the team this season, is headed down the road to Samford. He commented on his decision-making process: “For me it came down to a good school that was not too far from home. It really came down between Furman and Samford. They are both great schools so the deciding factor was the athletics. I feel that the Samford

Tom Lovelady

Stewart Jolly

Layton Dorsett

Joey Bemowski

Wilson Love

Sports | June 2010 |

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13

Mountain Brook Tennis Excels At the State Level

By Will Hightower

The Mountain Brook High School Boys Tennis Team won the Spartans’ third consecutive 6A State Tennis Championship in early May. With sixteen teams in the main state draw, each having finished first or second in their sectional tournaments, the road to the championship was a tough one. But through stellar play from several Spartans, Mountain Brook won the tournament.

Junior Patrick Lucas and sophomores Trey Carter, Loris Orsolini, and Eric Buchalter all won in the finals. Buchalter showed a flair for the dramatic, coming from behind in two sets to achieve the victory. The doubles teams of Carter/Lucas and Joey Francis/Orsolini also won in the state finals. Other team members include Stewart Cassady, Robert Corey, Patrick Darby, Patrick Hereford, Raman Malik, Jonathan Jetmundsen, Nelson Jetmundsen, Chase Newton, and Robby Scofield.

While not attaining the level of success of the boys team, the Mountain Brook High School Girls Tennis Team did finish 4th out of 17 teams in the state tournament. Coach Susan Farlow commented, “Due to a very unlucky, random draw, we had some very tough early round matches. But the girls played hard and got some great experience. This was a rebuilding year for us and hopefully we will pick up a couple of top players next year and get back on top. However, I am proud to announce that the girls were chosen to receive the “Sportsmanship Award” at the state tournament.

Girls team members include Lauren Douglas, Sara Douglas, Elise Favrot, Merrill Grace Hartline, Gracie Hawkins, Maggie Leeds, Madeline Lindsey, Farris Ann Luce, Elizabeth Lucas, Sydney Newton, and Hayden Thomas.

MBHS Tennis Team 2010

Evan Kendrick

Cori Pack

track and cross country team will be more based on building a team and not an individual, so that is why I chose Samford.

Other schools that I looked at were Wofford and Mississippi State.” He also divulged his personal goals for cross country and track. “I want to run under 26 minutes for 8k during cross country, and for track I want to run 3:53 for the 1500.”

Andrew Scofield, who is going on scholarship to the University of Wyoming, will represent Mountain Brook wrestling far away from home. Scofield said he is going to Wyoming for two main reasons: “Wyoming is a really small school, but it is division one so it has very good facilities and also the class sizes are really nice for a D1 School,” said Scofield. “My goals for college wrestling are being NCAA national champion and to work as hard as I possibly can with the 5 years I am going to have there.”

A trio of softball players and one baseball player will be representing Mountain Brook at the collegiate level.

Cody Jones, a MBHS pitcher, will be pitching for Wallace State Community College, while Cori Pack will be competing at Jeff State Community College, Katelyn Smith will be at Shelton State Community College, and Lindsey Reed will be playing for Southern Union Community College.

Pack commented on why she decided on Jeff State: “I chose Jeff State because it is close to home and I am really close to my family. Also, I loved the coaches there and

all the team members there!”

Lastly, two soccer players have signed on to colleges to play. Alex Reddy is headed to University of Pennsylvania, and Nathan Diehl has secured a spot on the University of North Carolina soccer team. Diehl earned a huge award earlier this season by being named one of the Gatorade Players of the Year for the entire nation. Only twenty players are honored with this extremely prestigious award.

With the stellar amount of athletes going on to compete at a higher level from our community, it is clear that Mountain Brook is producing more than just the status quo of academic achievers. Good luck to all athletes throughout their college careers.

Cody Jones

Lindsey Reed

Andrew Scofield

Katelyn Smith

Alex Reddy

Nathan Diehl

14 |

June 2010 | School House

Mountain Brook Elementary

Students Honor Flags

Each day of the school week, Monday through Friday, five sixth graders at Mountain Brook Elementary, are entrusted with the raising and lowering of the flags of the State of Alabama and the United States of America on the flagpole in front of the school.

Their duties include reporting to school early to retrieve the flags from a cabinet near the office, unfold the flags, attach them to the pole and use the pulley ropes to hoist the flags in their proper position.

MBE installs new PTO Officers

After school is dismissed, the boys lower the flags, fold them correctly and then store them for another evening. Two boys work as a team each holding an end of the flag and folding it on itself until it is a neat triangle. Having five volunteers on flag duty helps the boys work in shifts of two so no one gets overwhelmed with the job.

In this day and age, it is remarkable that five youths have such a firm understanding of duty, honor and patriotism.

The 2010-11 PTO officers were installed into their positions at the coffee and include the following ladies pictured here: Lauren Conner, Secretary, Adelaide Vandevelde, Second Vice President – Boosterthon Chairman Crawford Bumgarner, President, Tzena Gauldin, First Vice President - President Elect, Alicia Garrison, Treasurer and Susan Hancock, Parliamentarian. Tricia Golden, who is not pictured, was also installed as the Third Vice President – Halloween Carnival Chairman.

Seen here with the flag of the United States of America are: Travis Whitehead, John Price, Hunter Vaughan, Jonathon Eyster, and Jack Farmer.

MBE visits Sloss Furnaces Mountain Brook Elementary 3rd grade students recently enjoyed a field trip to Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama.

The children learned about the history of Sloss Furnaces and Birmingham and what it was like to work at a blast furnace.

Students took a guided tour of the furnace, the underground railroad tunnel, and the blowing engine building. They were able to see the enormous machinery and equipment that was used at Sloss Furnaces until 1971. The children made their own scratch blocks and watched as workers poured iron into their molds.

These girls are also enjoying the field trip: Isabelle DeBuys, Margaret Elise Allen and Anna Brooks Crane.

Touch of Light Wellness Chiropractic

Community Opportunity Week June 7th - 13th

Mountain Brook Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) held its annual coffee at the home of Cheryl Crane.

Several outgoing and incoming Committee Chairmen and Board members were present. Guests mingled over coffee and refreshments as they exchanged folders and ideas for the upcoming school year.

The MBE PTO is comprised of forty committees which are chaired and staffed by parent volunteers. Committee

choices range from fundraisers, to library and music helpers, to room mothers.

Committee choices can be quick, concentrated placements or more general, annual positions spanning throughout the year. Parents are given the opportunity to choose which committee they would like to be a part of and how they would like to volunteer their time for the school.

There is also an Executive Board which is made up of officers who are decided by the membership and govern the PTO.

MBE second graders study Butterflies As part of the science standard, second grade students from Mountain Brook Elementary have been studying the life cycle of butterflies for the past month.

Each class started with caterpillars, which grew, formed chrysalis, and emerged as Painted Lady butterflies in special nets hung in their classrooms. Students watched the butterflies in the nets for several days and were able to observe them lay eggs, which in turn, would develop into new caterpillars.

All took part in a butterfly party where students celebrated the release of their butterflies onto the nature trail at MBE. The children then enjoyed treats such as butterfly cookies and coke floats.

The unit of study culminated in a field trip to Huntsville where 2nd graders visited the Butterfly House at the Botanical Gardens. This gave students a chance to see a large variety of butterfly species.

Attracting Butterflies while at the Botanical Gardens in Huntsville are 2nd grade students Lizzie Cooper and Katherine McDonald.

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While at the Botanical Gardens, the entire class of Katherine Brown posed for a picture: Jackson Allison, Jake Brown, Alex Canterbury, Lily Cochrane, Sarah Catherine Cooper, Kathryn Garrison, Elizabeth Hanaway, Amanda Jones, Weesa Keller, Thomas Latimer, Bianca Loglisci, Robert Martin, Abby Murphree, Johnny Nathan, Alex Pitts, Michael Schmidt, Mabry Smyer, Henry Tynes and Liz Vandevelde.

*(Spinal Exam, Report of Findings and your first Spinal Entrainment)

Mountain Brook clips provided by Hilary Ross

Call Lois Donnelly D.C. • 313.1792

Mmountain brook

School House | June 2010 |

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15

Brookwood Forest Highlands School Battle of Gettysburg Reenactment Elementary Rising Kindergarteners Welcomed

Brookwood Forest Elementary School Pre Kindergarten PTO Committee distributed “Welcome to BWF” stars and magnets on mailboxes all over the Brookwood Foreset Neighborhood in April. Incoming BWF Kindergarten students received the bright green stars and Brookwood Forest magnets on their mailboxes this month. About 70 students throughout the Brookwood Forest Neighborhood will make up the Kindergarten class of 2010-2011. BWF PTO Pre Kindergarten Committee members are Sarah Pflaum, Heather Kelly, Yvette Weaver, Amy Maziarz and Christy Lee.

On Friday, April 30, Highlands Fifth Grade students took over the school quad and reenacted the Battle of Gettysburg.

Under the direction of Mr. Bo Garrett, the students had a great time restaging various battle strategies for both sides of the battle and used water balloons and water guns in “battle”. The day’s activities began with a musical presentation by Fifth Graders, Lincoln Sorscher, playing the mandolin, and Grace Robinson playing the violin cello.

Lincoln Sorscher playing the mandolin

Katie Witcher shows her star and magnet she received as a new member of the 2010-2011 Kindergarten Class at Brookwood Forest Elementary School.

Earth Day Events

5th Grade Confederate and Union “soldiers”

Step Right Up! Balloon popping, egg racing, and water gun shooting are just a few examples of the creativity of Highlands School’s Fifth Graders. At the beginning of their math probability unit, students put on a “Probability Carnival” to learn about fair and unfair games. Students created their own carnival games using the criteria given to them. Some games were fair, others were not—one player may have had an advantage over another. After the students had the chance to play all of the games, they had to analyze each game. They were able to ask questions in order to find the probability of each player winning. After Kayla Carr, Griselle Aguiar, Logan Sanderson, Eden Brittain, Sabrina Balmer, and Mrs. Jessica Meriwether.

Sixth graders at Brookwood Forest Elementary School participated in an Earth Day project to benefit their school on April 22 . During their social studies class, students laid stone pavers to create a walkway from the front entrance of the school to an outdoor sitting area with picnic tables. The students wanted to leave a positive mark on the landscape of Brookwood Forest Elementary before graduating and heading to junior high. As students worked, they listened to “With

My Own Two Hands” by Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. The lyrics from the song encourage us all to change the world by cleaning up, reaching out, being kind, making peace, and overall making it a better place with our own two hands. The students definitely spent their Earth Day reaching out to make Brookwood Forest a better place. The Social Studies Teacher for 6th grade at Brookwood Forest Elementary is Jessica Meriwether.

PTO Derby Day Luncheon Held

Caption: Participating in a Derby Day Fundraising Luncheon for Brookwood Forest Elementary PTO are hostesses from left to right: Maria Alexander, Ila Worthen, Bama Hagar, Jill Acosta, Gwen Blackwell, Carolyn Freeman, Janet Krueger, Bethanne Taylor, Julia King, Kelly Troiano. Not pictured, hostess Jennifer Cope.

Members of the Brookwood Forest PTO hosted their first annual Kentucky Derby Day luncheon on April 30th.

Luncheon tickets were sold at the school’s 2010 silent auction as a fundraiser for the PTO. Guests enjoyed traditional Kentucky hot browns and mint juleps before sitting down to classic derby day fare including, grilled pork tender with tea biscuits, shrimp and grits, marinated asparagus, and miniature derby pies.

Centerpieces of red roses in classic silver and hats were also arranged by luncheon hostesses. The party, which also included original artwork among the prizes given away for most creative hats was given by Janet Krueger, Julia King, Bama Hagar, Ila Worthen, Maria Alexander, Gwen Blackwell, Carolyn Freeman, Bethanne Taylor, Jennifer Cope, Jill Acosta, and Kelly Troiano. All proceeds will be used for special teacher projects at Brookwood Forest Elementary.

Brookwood Forest clips provided by Bama Hager Mmountain brook

L to R: Ms. Ashley Jones, Zoie McNeely, Emily Bolvig, and Issy Schwiebert

the carnival, the class discussed how games may be biased at fairs and carnivals…..Just one example of the “real life” application of learning at Highlands!

Highland clips provided by Judy McDonald Mmountain brook

16

| June 2010 | School House

Cherokee Bend Elementary School

Spring Carnival Fun Graduating Moms

Luncheon Held

Cherokee Bend PTO recently held the annual Graduating Moms Luncheon at the home of Linda Thompson. The luncheon is held every year to honor those mothers

2009 - 2010 PTO President Tricia Pugh with 2010 - 2011 PTO President Tracy Bragg

Kindergarten student Nicole Hatton

2nd graders Anson Harris and Will Yarbro

Cherokee Bend Elementary School recently held their annual Spring Carnival.

The theme this year was “40th Birthday Bash,” in celebration of the school’s 40th year.

Each class sponsored a carnival booth or ride. Indoor booths were set up in the gym and auditorium, and included a cake walk, football toss, and musical chairs.

The outdoor booths and rides included a dunking booth; face painting and hair dying; a “hamster wheel” and “whirlybird;” and various inflatables, including a moon walk and giant slide.

Students were allowed to attend both indoor and outdoor events during their allotted time slots during the school day, and were dismissed early to enjoy the festivities. This year’s Carnival was chaired by Evelyn O’Leary and Nell Koopman.

whose youngest child is graduating from Cherokee Bend. The lunch was organized

by Linda Thompson and Laura Read.

Relay for Life Cherokee Bend fifth graders recently participated in the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life at Mountain Brook High School. They had raised money with several fundraisers in honor

of Will Nichols, brother of 5th grader Sam Nichols and 2nd grader Jane Nichols.

Their team name was, “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way.”

Pictured during the relay for life event are Turner Beard, Sam Nichols, Will Nichols, Ben Fuller, and David Faulkner.

Cherokee Bend clips provided by Alison Gault

Emmet O’Neal Library Summer Reading Kick-Off

Bradford Page Makes a Splash at the Emmet O’Neal Library Summer Reading Kick-Off.

Over 500 young readers were registered by the Emmet O’Neal Library Children’s Department during the Summer Reading Kick-Off on Sunday, May 23rd.

Over 100 children earned ribbons for their top speeds in the Thomas Hughes Brinkley Memorial Fun Run, and this year’s carnival featured 25 booths manned by over 50 Junior Women’s Committee volunteers.

The Kick-Off was co-sponsored by the library and the Junior Women’s Committee of 100, or JWC. The Kick-Off is the largest single money-raising event for the Children’s Department. Carol Melton, head of the Children’s Department, said, “The money raised from this one event not only helps fund a fabulous summer reading program, but also allows the library to add new and innovative items to the collection.” Although this year’s total is not yet tallied, JWC president Shaun Gray said, “The event was a huge success.”

The Fun Run and Carnival were

an exciting start to the summer reading program, which will continue with daily registration and programs throughout June and July. Under the theme “Make a Splash!

Read!” all registered readers can earn free books, visit the library for fun waterthemed weekly prizes, and participate in wet and wild programs. The library offers programs for all ages. Children ages 0 to 36 months can call to reserve a spot in a special storytime just for them. Patrons ages 3 and up can enjoy puppets, theater, and music programs every Tuesday at 10:30 and 3:30. Kids entering 2nd through 6th grade can meet at the library every Thursday at 10:30 for a movie and popcorn, and at 3:30 for special water activities and theater programs. The Children’s Department expects to register over 2000 readers by the culmination of the program.

Registration is being taken anytime during library hours through August.

School House | June 2010 |

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17

Crestline Elementary School Team Wins First Place in Future “New” Principal is Problem Solver State Bowl No Stranger to Crestline

Crestline 5th graders Sam Vaughn, Eric Vaughn, Duncan Morris, and Adam Thomas are shown holding their trophy, plaque, and certificates after winning first place in the Junior Division of Future Problem Solvers State Bowl recently held at

AUM. This team won first place in both Booklet Competition and Presentation of Action Plan. They have been invited to attend the International Competition in LaCrosse, Wisconsin in June. They are pictured with their “coach” Julia Peterson.

Annual Cougar Chase

Crestline Elementary recently held the annual Cougar Chase, a one mile run, with 450 students from Kindergarten through Sixth grade participating. Preparing to run are Kate Spurlock, Tara Henderson, Allye Lott, Maggie Kindsvater, Emily Howell,

Laney Smith, Mary Claire Ritchey,and Madison McGinn. Male winners of the run were Drew Williams, Abraham HausmanWeiss and Carter Emack. Female winners were CeCe Sims, Sarah Frances Jackson, and Laney Smith.

Alabama History Play Reducing Pollution put on by 4th Graders from Car Emissions Crestline fourth graders rehearse for

the annual Alabama History play. Pictured are Stuart Phelan, Harrison Clark, Andy Barrett , Kay Benck, and Rush Denson.

All of the students represent characters from the history and heritage of Alabama.

Other fourth graders Abby Russell, Reed Campbell and Nick Belt prepare to represent Alabama’s capitol building, and characters from the past during the recent annual play.

Crestline Student Council Representative, Abigail Ross Barlow is holding a sign to remind parents to turn off the ignition while waiting in line to pick up their children after school. As part of the Auntie Litter campaign to reduce pollution from car emissions, Crestline is doing its share for cleaner air. So, remember, while waiting in line for extended periods of time, Turn the Key, Be Idle Free!

Crestline clips provided by Julia Peterson

Incoming principal Laurie King

By Michael Seale While Crestline Elementary School will start the 2010-11 school year with a “new” principal at the helm, students and parents will not be seeing a new face. has spent the majority of her career at Crestline, beginning her tenure at the school in 1984.

“I have big shoes to fill,” said King, who is replacing Dr. Mike Melvin as principal. “Mike Melvin has mentored me for five years, and has helped me a lot.”

King began her career as a Special Education teacher at Crestline, and was

later a reading coach before taking a job as assistant principal five years ago. She will begin her new job officially on June 1. She said the opportunity to hold this position at this school, especially after putting 26 years of her life into the school, is an honor.

It has been a lifelong goal of mine to go into education. I knew this was my calling,” she said of her career. “I would put this school up against any in the nation.

We have a fabulous staff and the most dedicated and passionate teachers.”

She continued, “What sets us apart is that we are a family here. Family comes first. If you do not prioritize, then you will not be successful.”

She added that not only do the teachers contribute to the excellence of the school, but the parents do as well. “I don’t think anyone has any idea how hard our parents work for our school,” she said. ‘Anything you give them to do, they do it.” She said the source of pride at Crestline is evident throughout the community, which is one of the reasons she has put so much of her time and life into the school.

“People move here to come to this school,” she said. “Even people without kids who live here support the school and give their time and effort to help us.”

King received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University, and completed her graduate studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has three daughters; Cassidy, 23, Hannah, 19, and Abby, 17. She and her husband, Tommy, live in Vestavia.

18

| June 2010 | Village Living

Show Me the Money

By Jennifer Gray

Cynthia Mayo’s Life Skills class at Mountain Brook High School is a group of unique and talented kids. Under her direction, the class has started a successful business with multiple products that has raised over $4000 for classroom activities, materials, and rewards for her students.

How did it all start? With Mayo’s creativity and “Can Do” attitude, she decided that her students could learn how to make something, sell it, and feel good about themselves in the process.

In August of 2007, Mayo came to Mountain Brook High School. She has been an educator for 19 years, and it is obvious that she loves what she does and loves her students. She says that she got an idea that the students should start a school business. Her only criteria were that it be something easy to make and that people wanted to buy. Her first idea was scarves.

This business can be started on $200 or less she says. All it required was knitting yarn.

“Everyone has yarn around their house.

All you have to do is send out an email to friends asking for knitting yarn and you

would be surprised how much turns up,” she said.

With a goal of holding their first sale in February, the class started the project in January. It was a slow start. At first, the six students in her class were not working very fast or appearing to be very interested in the project. “That’s when I stepped back and tried to figure out where I was going wrong. Then I realized, it wasn’t on their detailed schedule. “ she said. Each student works daily off of a detailed schedule.

Schedules and processes are very important to her students. Once the adjustment was made to add a detailed description of the process of making the scarves, the students and the project took off.

The students named their business Eye of the Needle. The scarves, which sell for $10 apiece, were first sold in February of 2008 in the mall at the high school. They were a hit with the students!

Other products quickly followed. They added tie dyed t-shirts, ribbon key chains, and bookmarks. A speech therapist at the high school gave them the idea to

Mrs. Mayo conducting a board meeting with Stephen Henninger, John, Donley, Janie Kyle and Erin Rosemore.

do diamond glazed necklaces, so they conquered that next. When Mayo and her teaching assistant, Donna Jones, attended a “Stampin’ Up” home party, they got the idea that the students could make greeting cards using stamps, colorful cut outs, buttons, and anything else they could find.

Now the students hold three sales a year to showcase their products. These sales take place at the high school and the junior high school. “The junior high sale lets us begin to include the students there that will be part of our class at the high school the following school year. They get to help run the sale and begin to see the products and what we do. The junior high class keeps the proceeds from that sale,” says Mayo.

You might wonder how the students in Mrs. Mayo’s class benefit from this endeavor. Although academics are taught in her class, life skills are a primary focus.

The business accomplishes this through real life experiences such as teaching the students how to use a time clock. When it is each student’s turn to work on the class business, they clock in on a real time clock and clock out when they are through working. Mayo teaches the students how to calculate their time and how much money they have “earned”. Although she cannot pay them for their work, some of the profits of the business are allocated to each student. A big reward for the class is getting to go to Wal Mart and spend their reward money on something of their choosing.

Eye of the Needle also has a board of directors- all six of the students. They hold board meetings and discuss and vote on the products they will make and what they will charge for the product. Mayo guides them through the process of estimating their cost to make a product and how much they will need to sell it for to make a profit.

Another use of the profits is in meal preparation. Each Friday, the class shops for and prepares a lunch in the classroom.

They create the menu, make the list, and Mayo takes them to the store where they use the money from the business to

Janie Kyle and Erin Rosemore are ready for business in the mall, at the high school.

purchase the groceries. The students also look forward to lunch out as a treat. Money generated by the business has also allowed Mayo to purchase additional curriculum materials for the class, take them bowling and to McWane Science Center and to rent a limousine to take the students to the Prom. “The limousine ride to the Prom was definitely a highlight for these kids,” said Mayo.

The class has also learned philanthropy by donating money to charitable organizations such as Hand in Paw and has supported the high school soccer team with a banner they purchased to display at games. But the most important benefit is the joy and pride these students have in making the products and seeing others admire their work and want to buy their handiwork. Some might think that Mayo expects a lot from her students and she does. “I have high expectations, and they have never let me down,” says Mayo.

The class’s next goal is to earn enough money to purchase an ITouch for each student’s use in class. This would enable them to keep track of their schedule and other work. If you are interested in purchasing any of Mrs. Mayo’s class’s products, you may reach her at mayoc@ mtnbrook.k12.al.us.

Life, love and fly fishing (part 2)

By Michael Seale

(Note: This is a continuation of a story from the may issue of Village Living, wherein writer Michael Seale and publisher Dan Starnes took a fly-fishing lesson from Dr. David Diaz of Deep South Outfitters).

I soaked in all that David Diaz taught me about the art of fly-fishing, after my tutorial at the Colonnade pond. And make no mistake, fly-fishing most certainly is an art. If not, it is at the very least a way of life and a culture. And I fully understand why.

My publisher Dan Starnes arranged for us to take a short trip up to Sipsey Fork, a branch of the Warrior River, near Smith Lake in Cullman County. I was nervous, somewhat, because like in everything I do, I wanted to be successful at fly fishing, and I wanted to make sure I came back with at least a good story, if not a fish or two.

It was a beautiful day. Sunny, not too hot, a cloudless sky. All of it culminated into one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in some time. And I owe so much of that experience to Diaz, who introduced me to the joys of fly-fishing.

After buying some midge’s (the preferred fly for catching trout in Sipsey Fork), some leader line and a couple of Slim Jim’s, then renting some waders and boots from the Riverside Fly Shop, Dan and I drove on down to the river. We had both assumed we could just stand in the water in out shorts and sandaled feet, but Brandon at the fly shop all but laughed at us when we said such a thing, reminding us that the water was no warmer than 42 degrees, which is why trout is the preferred fish for the spot, being a cold water fish.

After walking down a small slope and a few trails, we reached the water’s edge and picked out a spot to start casting. I thought back to my lesson with Diaz. I remembered what he said about the “feel” of a good cast. I recalled how he told me to keep my rod low to the water before

pulling back to cast, and to wait until the line is back behind me fully before I cast it forward.

That is not saying, however, that I executed his tutorial the first few times.

In fact, on my fourth or fifth cast, I ended up throwing my leader loose and having to spend a good 30 minutes staring at the line to figure out what needed to be done to prevent my entire fishing trip from going the way of the dodo.

While contemplating the knot I would need to tie, I saw Dan snag the first of a handful of trout he would catch that day. It was a beautiful fish, and the fight I witnessed as he hooked the trout, then summoned it to him made my heart pound, and I simply had to get out there.

That is when I met Mike Key. Mike has been fishing this river since 1973, and I had noticed him about 20 yards from Dan when we first started fishing at this spot. He pulled in three or four fish before we were able to get one, collectively.

A soft-spoken man, Mike asked me why I was sitting on the bank with my tangled line in my hands and not out in the river fishing. I explained that my leader had come loose and I had no idea how to get it back on.

“Is that all?” he asked with a smile.

I handed him my rod and in about 30 seconds he had tied a quick knot, attached one of his homemade flies to my line and had me all ready to fish again. Walking out to him in my waders, I could understand why Brandon at the fly shop thought Dan and I were fools for thinking we could fish in the river without the waders. Even though the waterproof material, I could feel how cold the water was. There was no way we could have done this in shorts and flip flops.

Mike talked me through a few casts, and before too long, I was pulling in my

first fish. A small trout with a lot of fight, this first fish meant a heck of a lot more to me than the 20 or so fish Mike caught that day, I can assure you. It was the first time I had ever caught a fish on the fly, and I have to admit, it felt good. And I remembered Diaz telling me why he preferred flyfishing.

“It is the most exciting way to catch a fish,” Diaz told me during my lesson. And he is right. There is something so satisfying about the methods involved in fly-fishing.

The excitement, I think, comes from the constant motion, and the tact with which one catches a fish on the fly.

Mike’s fly that he let me use, unfortunately, ended up in the river with the fish I caught, and I felt awful about it, although he insisted I use another one of his flies. “My son, Tim, and I have a policy,” Mike said. “The only time we leave the river without one of these flies is if it gets lost or it is with a fish.” Luckily, my situation fell in the latter category.

Dan saw a good deal of success on the Sipsey as well. Shortly after my catch, he

pulled in his second fish of the day. Dan’s second fish was bigger than his first, and put up a bigger fight. You see, it is the fight that adds so much to the excitement.

Seeing Dan land that second fish got my adrenaline flowing. And seeing Mike pull in his sixth of the afternoon (although he only kept five) made me forget that I likely needed to get back to my house by 3 p.m.

For the record, we did not get back until after 6.

The day was simply perfect. Using Diaz’ instruction and the philosophy he linked to the perfect fly cast, coupled with Mike’s humble instruction and wisdom gave me the confidence to stay out there, and to want to return.

Watching people like Mike Key and David Diaz, and listening to them talk about fly-fishing makes me understand why this is not just a “game” or an “activity.” It is a culture. It is a way of life. It is - as foolish as this may sound – a romantic partnership of sorts. And if you will pardon the pun, I’m hooked.

Michael Seale’s first fish on a fly

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

| June 2010 |

Village Living Calendar

Music & Arts

19

Family Fun

6/3 -6:00 p.m., Serenata Latin Groove Band and DJ Carlos, Alys Stephens Center, ticket information, 205-975-2787

6/2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., Learn to Fly One Day Camp, ages 9 & up,

6/3 -8:00 p.m., Act of Congress and Three On A String, Alabama Theatre, ticket

6/5-6/6, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show, Tannehill Ironworks Historic State Park, exhibitors display and sell fossils, crystals, tumbled stones, etc., park admission, 205-477-5711

flight simulation, Southern Museum of Flight, 205-833-8226

information, 205-251-7727

6/4 -8:00 p.m., Alabama Symphony Orchestra presents Country’s Hit Makers-Behind the Hits, Alabama Theatre, ticket information, 205-251-7727 6/12 - 7:30 p.m., Carrie Underwood, BJCC Arena, tickets, 205-458-8400

6/6 - 12:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m., Vulcan’s 106th Birthday Bash, outdoor celebration and family activities, admission $3.00, call 205-933-1409 6/8, 15, 22, 29 -9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., I Wanna Be A Pilot One Day Camp, ages 6-8, Southern Museum of Flight, $20.00, 205-833-8226

6/17 -7:00 p.m., Lynyrd Skynyrd with 38 Special and Bret Michaels, Verizon Music Center, tickets, 205-985-4900

6/8-9, showtimes vary, Nickelodeon presents Storytime Live! With Dora and Friends, BJCC Concert Hall, tickets, 205-458-8400

6/17 -6:00 p.m., The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, Alys Stephens Center, ticket information, 205-975-2787

6/13 - 12:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m., Big Reptile Day at the Birmingham Zoo, admission charged, 205-879-0409

6/18 - 8:00 p.m., Alabama Symphony Orchestra presents The Music of Michael Jackson, Alabama Theatre, tickets, 205-251-7727

6/18-20, Ultimate Man Stuff Expo, BJCC Exhibition Hall, admission and info, 205458-8400

6/25 - 8:00 p.m., Sam Bush in Concert, Alys Stephens Center, tickets, 205-975-2787

6/19, - Father’s Day Iron Pour at Sloss Furnace, information, 205-324-1911

Food & Wine

6/19 -11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., Father’s Day Train Ride at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Dad rides ½ price when accompanied by one or more of his children, information, 205-668-3435

6/4-5, 4th Annual Magic City Brewfest, food, music, beer sampling, admission & parking fee, Sloss Furnace, www.magiccitybrewfest.com

Gardening/Nature

6/5 - Mt. Laurel Farmer’s Market opens 6/5, 12, 19, 26, 7:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., Pepper Place Market, locally grown produce, www.pepperplacemarket.com

6/5-6, 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., 8th Annual Art in the Gardens, Aldridge Botanical Gardens, fine art and craft show, free admission, 205-682-8019

6/10 - 6:30 p.m., No-Knead Bread Class, hosted by Becky Satterfield, Birmingham Bake and Cook Company, class fee $25.00, contact Susan Green, 205-980-3661

6/19, 10:00 a.m., Bug Races-Bugs of Alabama, Oak Mtn State Park Treetop Nature Trail, free with park admission, 205-620-2520

Theatre

Vacation Bible Schools & Camps

6/10-6/12, 6/17-6/19, 6/24-6/26, “Almost Maine” presented by the Birmingham

6/7-6/10 - VBS at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church- visit www.saint-lukes.com or call 871-3583 for more information

6/18-6/20, 6/24-6/27, “Little Shop of Horrors” presented by the Virginia Samford

6/7-6/11 - VBS at Canterbury Methodist Church- contact Susan Wilborn at 8741539 for more information.

Summer Movie Series

6/14-6/18 - VBS at Brookwood Baptist Church- visit www.brookwood.org for more information or call 967-0441

Festival Theatre, tickets $20, call 205-933-2383

Theatre, tickets and show times, call 205-251-1286

6/4 Avatar- Homewood Park- www.homewoodparks.com

For information on camps and other activities available, visit www.mtnbrook.k12. al.us/cms/community+education for a detailed list and description of activities, camps are also available through the LJCC at www.bhamjcc.org

6/11 Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeak-uel- Homewood Park- www. homewoodparks.com

Sports

6/18 Where the Wild Things Are- Homewood Park- www.homewoodparks.com

6/2 - 12:35 p.m.- 15th Annual Rickwood Classic, Birmingham Barons vs. Tennessee Smokies, Rickwood Field, tickets, 205-988-3200

6/25 E.T. Homewood Park- www.homewoodparks.com 6/26 - Snow White 2p.m. Alabama Theatre- www.alabamatheatre.com

6/1, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30 - Birmingham Barons home games, Regions Park, game times vary, for tickets call 205-988-3200

6/26 - Sing-A-Long Mamma Mia- 7p.m. Alabama Theatre- www.alabamatheatre.

6/12 & 13 - 7:00 a.m., Xterra at Oak Mountain State Park, 5 major races for

com

triathletes, contact 205-620-2520

6/27 - Adam’s Rib 2 p.m. Alabama Theatre- www.alabamatheatre.com Do you know of events in our community? We would love to include them. Please email Jennifer@villagelivingonline.com by the 15th of each month for the publication in the next month’s issue.

Otey’s

224 Country Club Park 871-8435

6/12 - 7:30 a.m., J-Rags Buster Britton Memorial Triathlon, Oak Mtn. State Park, admission charged for park and for race participants, www.team-magic.com Save the Date: Market Day July 24th Mountain Brook Village

Village Live Music Listings

6/4 Altamont 6/5 King Tully 6/8 Juice- Will and Sarah Mason 6/10 The Noble Freeland Band 6/11 Magnetic Elite 6/12 Second Helping 6/15 Will and Sarah Mason 6/17 Roosevelt Franklin 6/18 Crenshaw Park 6/19 The Noble Freeland Band 6/24 The Noble Freeland Band 6/25 Bonus round & Damnit to Hell Horn Section 6/26 Seth Capper Band 6/29 Will and Sarah Mason

Billy’s

2012 Cahaba Road 879-2238 6/3 The Tennessee Firearms 6/4 Odie 6/5 Little Memphis Blues Orchestra 6/11 The rescue Dogs 6/12 The Eric Mcginty Trio 6/17 The tamed Dogs 6/18 Zippy D & Dirty Love 6/19 Pharm Hand 6/24 Jason Mayo 6/25 The Tony Brook Band

Open Door Café 1115 Dunston Avenue 879-6659

6/3 Blues Old Stand 6/5 Todd Codor 6/9 Joe & Jason 6/10 Stuart Mcnair 6/11 The Jacks 6/12 Pharmhand 6/16 Jason & Kelli 6/17 Zippy D 6/18 Old Dirty Pandas 6/23 Joe & Jason 6/24 Stuart Mcnair 6/30 Jason Bailey Trio

| June 2010 |

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