Village Living August 2015 by Starnes Media

Village Living neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook

Volume 6 | Issue 5 | August 2015

Spartan spotlight

Crestline grows up

What can you expect from the upcoming Mountain Brook High School football season? Read our preview inside to ﬁnd out.

Sports page B1

Tailgate time

Construction and school stats show families are choosing to stay in the area long term By OLIVIA BURTON

Kick off tailgate season early at Boiling N’ Bragging this month. Find details on this and other events in the area in this issue.

When Laura Canterbury moved from Homewood to Crestline in 2007, she imagined her family staying in the area for about 10 years. Now, she said, they plan on staying closer to 20. “What really made us change our minds

Melanie and Chris Couch and their children, Eleanor and Jack, play with the giant chess set in front of City Hall in Crestline Village. Like an increasing number of families in the area, the Couches, who moved to Crestline in 2013, plan to stay as their children grow up. Photo by Keith McCoy.

was being so close to the village and getting used to walking everywhere,” she said. “Once we got so close to Crestline Village, it was hard to think about moving anywhere else.” With families staying longer in the neighborhood and larger homes replacing the more traditional cottage-style houses in Crestline, the area is losing its reputation as being almost

exclusively for starter homes. “Crestline has always had younger families,” said RealtySouth agent Langston Hereford. “But I think that younger families are staying in Crestline longer. It used to be that you might stay in Crestline for the ﬁrst two

See CRESTLINE | page A22

Community page A17

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School House .....B8 Sports .................B11 Faith ....................B13 Calendar........... B14

All in one place Center for children with autism celebrates 10-year anniversary By MADOLINE MARKHAM

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At age 2, Mitchell Meisler’s parents noticed he wasn’t speaking or making eye contact. The diagnosis they received was autism. What they also found was that Mitchell could spell out words like “Sports Illustrated” and “Capri Sun.” Experts told his parents, Nancy and Allen, he had a photographic memory. Following the diagnosis, the Meislers began to take Mitchell to a psychologist, an occupational therapist and a speech therapist for therapy in different locations across Birmingham. The more they learned about autism, they more they learned what services weren’t available in Alabama and how great a demand there was for a center for children on the spectrum. Public

See MITCHELL | page A19

Nancy and Allen Meisler founded Mitchell’s Place a decade ago in honor of their now 20-year-old son, Mitchell, pictured in the middle at the center’s playground. Photo by Keith McCoy.

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Village Living

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August 2015 • A3

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Village Living

A4 • August 2015

About Us Please Support our Community Partners

Photo of the month

Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce board members work the chamber’s tent during Market Day. Photo by Elizabeth Nance.

Editor’s Note By Jennifer Gray Whether it’s good news to you to see summer end or not, there is lots to talk about in Mountain Brook. To help you get ready for a new school year, we have the details on tax free shopping weekend and talked with all of the incoming PTO presidents. Each school has its own unique personality and culture, and I enjoyed seeing how that came through in their comments about school year plans, annual events and fundraisers. You will also ﬁnd out former Teacher of the Year and Cherokee Bend teacher Ann Marie Corgill’s plans for this school year. She is following her calling to teach all children and embarking on a new adventure in one of the Birmingham City Schools. She will be greatly missed, but it will also be wonderful to

watch what a difference she makes at Oliver Elementary and the lives of those children. As summer ended, we lost some familiar faces around the city ofﬁces to retirement. Carol Epstein and Jerry Weems both retired after long careers with the city. Anyone who has had business with the city knows Carol for her friendly and helpful attitude, and those of you who have renovated or built homes or businesses knows Jerry and his attention to details, codes and safety. We wish them both a well deserved retirement. Also this month Crestline’s Tent Sale returns with more stores and lots of bargains. Enjoy strolling and shopping and snatching up those sale items. Come out and shop local in Crestline.

Another celebration this month is the 10th anniversary of Mitchell’s Place. Mitchell’s Place was founded by Mountain Brook residents who realized that there were not enough resources for children on the autism spectrum. Since then Mitchell’s Place has served as an invaluable resource to these families. Knowing that studies show that early intervention and learning are critical to long-term achievement of children living with autism, Mitchell’s Place provides intensive teaching and behavior lessons that allow children to reach their fullest potential. So sharpen those number two pencils, press that ﬁrst day of school outﬁt, pack that new lunch box and let’s have a great school year!

Village Living Publisher: Creative Director: Community Editor: Managing Editor: Managing Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writers:

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Dan Starnes Keith McCoy Jennifer Gray Madoline Markham Sydney Cromwell David Knox Katie Turpen Madison Miller Erica Techo Roy L. Williams Louisa Jeffries Emily VanderMey Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Kari Kampakis Jordan Hays Chris Griesedieck Olivia Burton Village Living LLC

School House Contributors: Catherine Gasque - Cherokee Bend, Collins Clegg - Crestline, Kathleen Woodry - Brookwood Forest, Elizabeth Farrar - Mountain Brook High School, Hilary Ross- Mountain Brook Elementary, Dena Berte - Mountain Brook Junior High Contributing Photographers: Image Arts Contact Information: Village Living #3 Ofﬁce Park Circle, Suite 316 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

For advertising contact: Dan@VillageLivingOnline.com 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.

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20 Midtown (A22) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A6) Alabama Foot Institute (A14) Alabama Goods (B9) Alabama Outdoors (A2) Alabama Partners for Clean Air (B11) Alabama Power (A19) Always Best Care: ABC Senior Services (B4) Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (A23) Amy Smith (A20) Bahama Bucks (B3) Bedzzz Express (B16) Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club (A11) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (B15) Boy Scouts of America (B3) Brandino Brass (B13) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A11) Brookdale University Park (A12) California Closets (B8) Canterbury Gardens (A18) Children’s of Alabama (B10) Commute Smart (B9) Dish’n It Out (B11) Do Di Yo’s (B12) Ex Voto Vintage (B12) Eye Do (B5) Family Share Massage (A20) Gardner Landscaping (A6) Great Smiles Orthodontics (A10) Hollywood Feed (A1) Hufham Orthodontics (A5) Issis & Sons (A17) Jacqueline DeMarco (A7) JJ Eyes (A13) John-William Jeweller (A12) Kirkwood by the River (B10) Klinglers Cafe & Catering (A18) Korduroy Krocodile (A9) Lane Parke - Evson Inc. (A7) Liberty Park (A8) Lovell Pediatric Dentistry (B5) Morningside at Riverchase (B7) Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce (B14) Otey’s (B15) Over the Mountain Glass (A11) Planet Fitness (B7) RealtySouth (A24) Renasant Bank (A15) Sewing Machine Mart (B15) Simply Ponds (A14) Skelton’s Air (A23) Stephanie Steinmetz DDS (A20) Stifel (A9) Swoop (B3) Taco Mama (A13) Target Auction Company (A14) The Fitness Center (A21) The Maids (B13) TherapySouth Crestline (A3) Treeline Expeditions, LLC (B2) TRX Fitness - TrainSmarter (B8) Village Dermatology (A2) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A16) Weigh To Wellness (B1)

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A5

City Cahaba Village adding parking By MADOLINE MARKHAM Cahaba Village will have 128 new parking spaces by late August. Construction to add the new spaces began June 22 and was scheduled to take about eight weeks to complete, depending on weather, according to Joy Wood, regional manager for Bayer Properties. West of Green Valley Road, 57 new spaces will be added. In addition, 71 spaces will be created in the Whole Foods parking lot. Currently, the development has 290 spaces on the retail side and 269 on the Whole Foods side.

Current parking and traffic will not be affected by the construction, Wood said. The Mountain Brook City Council first considered an amendment to the Cahaba Village Master Development Plan to allow for the additional spaces to be constructed in October 2013. The Alabama Department of Transportation later approved the project as well.

Cahaba Village has announced that additional parking is coming soon with signs at the shopping center. Photo by Madoline Markham.

After changing the landscape of Mountain Brook, a change of pace for Jerry Weems By OLIVIA BURTON Jerry Weems, Mountain Brook’s building superintendent of the Inspections Department, retired at the end of July after over 30 years of public service beginning in 1984. “Jerry has seen a lot of changes in his lifetime here in the city,” said City Manager Sam Gaston. During Weems’s time at City Hall, he worked on several major developments including Cahaba Village, the Publix on Overton Road, the shops at River Run and many new residential developments and renovations.

According to the City Hall report on his upcoming retirement, “Over the years Jerry has worked tirelessly to oversee the building and zoning functions of the city, ensuring that the city’s built environment reflects the highest standard of relevant codes.” He also implemented subdivision, flood plain, storm water and telecommunications ordinances and oversaw a variety of regulations while working with contractors, architects and engineers. “He’s a very faithful and dedicated person,” said Gaston. “He’s here every morning around 6 or 6:30 and meets with contractors

After 30 years at city hall, Building Inspections Director Jerry Weems will be retiring this July.

and builders so they can start their day. He has always gone the extra mile to help either a citizen or a builder or a contractor.” In addition to being a Master Mason, Weems has received one Bronze Star and three Purple Heart awards for his service in the Vietnam War. Weems is married and has two sons and one grandson. During his retirement, Weems will hunt, fish, and spend time with his family. “He certainly has the respect of a lot of people in the city,” said Gaston. “We’ll miss him, but we also wish him the best in retirement.”

Village Living

A6 • August 2015

Survey seeking suggestions for park improvements By MADOLINE MARKHAM Wider trails, a recreation center and a dog park are all on the table for potential city park improvements. Lose and Associates, a firm out of Nashville, began research for a parks and recreation plan in late June and posted a survey to collect public feedback on July 21. The 33-question survey is available at surveymonkey.com/r/MountainBrook through Aug. 11. Its questions were created based on park-related ideas raised in interviews with city officials and staff as well as meetings with residents. About 25 people attended a public meeting on June 30 with Lose, and the night before a steering committee of 24 people met with Lose to talk about their ideas for potential improvements and additions to the park system. Lose also visited all parks and recreation sites that week, assessed their condition and noted potential changes for the future. “You have a lot to work with, and you use every square inch,” said Chris Camp of Lose & Associates. The top five issues raised by the steering committee were buying more land, multipurpose sports facilities including indoor facilities, a recreation center, a senior center, and water fountains and restrooms. At the June 30 meeting, Camp gave a presentation on park facilities across the country and then opened dialogue about their ideas, those presented by the steering committee and those from people in attendance at the meeting. “The bones of your system are good,” Camp said. “Boy does this city have trees! If you needed to cut a few to enhance your parks, I believe you’d never miss them.” Camp’s initial suggestions based on park visits included:

Chris Camp of Lose & Associates talks about other recreation center projects his firm has worked on at a public meeting to gather input for a new parks master plan on June 30. Photo by Madoline Markham.

}} new surfacing on trail systems }} widening trails }} improving playgrounds and ensuring they are ADA compliant }} adding splash pads and shelters to parks }} looking at adding a dog park possibly with a membership fee structure }} creating a new community gathering space }} adding a walking path around Crestline field and improving it to better host community festivals }} using Overton Park for music events or

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movies in the park }} possibly buying the old swim and tennis club on Old Leeds Road that is for sale and creating a park and/or recreation buildings on the property }} adding trail signs and maps }} adding more aesthetic elements to parks }} starting athletic programming for young adults such as kickball leagues }} creating bike lanes. From there Lose will use the survey data combined with their review of park visits, park

policies, numbers from the sports association and school-parks agreements to develop a preliminary plan to share with the city. It will include assessments, findings, recommendations for new projects, a capital plan that outlines their cost and potential funding opportunities. The entire master plan process is slated for completion by November. For updates on when the survey is posted, visit villagelivingonline.com.

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A7

Pig construction underway

Fencing will surround the future Crestline Piggly Wiggly site during the duration of construction. Photo by Madoline Markham.

By MADOLINE MARKHAM Work has begun on the new Crestline Village Piggly Wiggly. Construction on the store is scheduled to be complete around Christmas, and it should open for business by early February 2016, according to Jeffrey Brewer of Goodwin Mills and Cawood. The construction is estimated to take about eight months, and they are hoping to start paving before Thanksgiving. Mountain Brook City Council approved plans for the new store in December. The urban-style store will be located on Vine Street

between the Crestline Elementary field, Mountain Brook Board of Education building and former CVS location. Plans call for 90 parking spaces that would be in a lot adjacent to the store. The building itself will have 28,250 square feet of gross floor area. By contrast, the old store featured 11,400 square feet of retail space and 3,600 square feet of storage space and had 45 parking places. Typical suburban grocery stores are 40,00050,000 square feet. Mountain Brook’s city council also approved an economic incentive program for the development last year.

City approves Rocky Ridge repaving plans By MADOLINE MARKHAM Plans are moving forward to repave Rocky Ridge Road, and the city of Mountain Brook has entered an agreement to take part in the project. The project will resurface about five miles of Rocky Ridge Road from Lorna Road to Shades Crest Road. The resolution approved at the July 13 council meeting will also authorize ALDOT

to close streets as necessary for the project. Property in Mountain Brook city limits borders one side of the road for a little over a half mile from U.S. 280. Vestavia Hills City Engineer Christopher Brady estimates that Mountain Brook may be asked to match an estimated $19,972.18 for the $1.4-million project. Public Works Director Ronnie Vaughn said that all the cities involved must approve the plan before the project is bid out.

Lindbergh, Vulcan memorabilia on display at City Hall By MADOLINE MARKHAM Construction on Birmingham’s first municipal airport began after Charles Lindbergh visited the Tutwiler Hotel in 1927, and Mountain Brook City Hall is now hosting historical memorabilia that marks the his statement. A new installment of historical items from the Birmingham History Center was placed in City Hall’s exhibition case on July 6, four months after the initial installment of Irondale

Furnace artifacts. Other items in the new display include samples from 69 bottlers who have produced in Jefferson County, stained glass from Birmingham Terminal Station and a radiator cap from the only automobile ever produced in Birmingham. The collection from Birmingham History Center can be viewed whenever City Hall is open. New exhibits will continue to be installed every fourth months as a part of the center’s contract with the city.

LANEPARKE.INFO

Village Living

A8 • August 2015

By MADOLINE MARKHAM New stop signs at Brookwood Road and Crosshill Road will improve safety at the intersection in the future. At the July 13 council meeting, Richard Caudle of Skipper Consultants recommended two stop signs be added on the south side of the intersection for both directions of traffic to improve sight distance. These improvements will cost $1,200. A third stop sign could be added at the north side of the intersection, but it would increase traffic backup and hence Caudle did not recommend it.

The only area of the intersection where sight distance was below minimum requirements is for traffic entering the southern intersection of Crosshill Road looking to the right. There it is limited to 170 feet, whereas the minimum required for the posted speed limit is 335 feet. Accordingly, a driver who crashed on March 13, 2012 entering Crosshill Road said she did not see the vehicle approaching from Brookwood Road. This was one of three crashes that occurred at the intersection from 2012-2014. “Considering the number of teenage

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New stop signs recommended for Brookwood-Crosshill intersection Crosshill Rd

Proposed stop signs Existing stop signs

This map shows the existing and proposed stop signs at Brookwood Road and Crosshill Road.

drivers, I think this is a good solution,” City Council Member Lloyd Shelton said. Another alternate resolution to the stop signs would be adding a traffic

signal, but traffic counts at the intersection did not warrant this addition. Skipper also noted congestion at the intersection from 7:37-7:53 a.m. and 4:11-4:30 p.m.

The city will send notices to neighbors about the upcoming stop sign additions.

Council updates By MADOLINE MARKHAM At recent meetings, the Mountain Brook City Council: }} Discussed an ALDOT agreement for utility and construction for a roundabout in Mountain Brook Village. Federal funds will pay for 80 percent of the $2.6 million project, Birmingham will pay 10 percent and Mountain Brook will pay 10 percent. Utilities will cost an estimated $500,000 of the $2.6 million.

}} Declared a public nuisance at 4455 Briar Glenn Drive. The owners now no longer live at the home, and they have not responded to recent letters about the overgrowth on the property. Once finalized the public nuisance approval will allow the city to cut grass on the property and get it cleaned up. }} Approved a fire hydrant for the new Crestline Piggly Wiggly. Brasfield & Gorrie will pay to install it, and the city will pay $186 annually for its lease.

}} Presented a resolution to Jerry Weems recognizing his retirement as a building inspector for the city as of Aug. 1. He has worked for the city since 1984. “I feel like in a lot of ways I have received more benefits than I have given,” Weems said. “I feel like I got a very good education while I have been over here, and it didn’t cost me a dime.” }} Recognized Carole Epstein for her upcoming retirement from the city after nearly 30 years of service as an executive assistant.

}} Accepted a professional services proposal and services contract by Sain Associates for a sidewalk and lane shift on Overbrook Road at Mountain Brook Parkway. }} Approved beer and wine licenses for Iz Café in English Village. }} Presented a resolution thanking David Price for his service on the Tree Commission for six years.

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A9

Schools to increase student drug tests By MADISON MILLER Dr. Dale Wisely updated the Mountain Brook Board of Education on the system’s current drug testing program at its meeting on July 13. Voluntary drug testing is required of all students who use parking passes at Mountain Brook High School. Last year, the system tested more frequently. The system went up from three testing dates per year in 2013-2014 to eight in the 2014-2015 school year. “We stepped up the program considerably since we had a larger body of students that were in that pool, we increased the number of tests we gave from past years, and probably most importantly, not only did we increase the total number, but we increased the number of test sessions,” Wisely said. Over the course of the 2014-2015 school year, 459 tests were administered. Out of these tests, seven came back positive, each for marijuana. If a test comes up positive for prescription drugs, the medical director confidentially contacts the family and often finds that the drug is prescribed to the student. The test is usually unable to detect alcohol, which leaves the body too quickly. Other substances such as marijuana stay in the body for up to three weeks. Next year, the system has budgeted another increase in testing days at both Mountain

Dr. Dale Wisely discussed updates on Mountain Brook’s student drug-testing program at its Board of Education meeting in July. Photo by Madison Miller.

Brook Junior High School for ninth-graders and Mountain Brook High School. A total of 440 tests is planned. Wisely said that positive tests for seventh and eighth-graders are often so uncommon that it would not make financial sense to test students at those levels. “With the increase in drug testing, the chances that a student will be tested sometime during the year has increased significantly,” Wisely said.

Technology installation could improve cell service in Mountain Brook By MADOLINE MARKHAM Cell phone service could improve around Mountain Brook in areas where there are currently gaps. At its July 13 meeting the city council considered amending the city’s Telecommunication Towers ordinance to allow for smaller antennae to be installed around the city. These small pieces of equipment, called mini-cell sites, would supplement existing cell towers and would be attached to existing structures in the city right of way, such as Alabama Power, AT&T or traffic light poles. The antennae would be about the size of a carry-on suitcase and only reach about 1,000 to 1,500 feet. In addition to reaching areas without service, the sites would also help alleviate capacity for service. For instance, when a macro service site is covering Crestline when a parade comes through the area, the sites would better be able to accommodate a large

volume of service needed. Mayor Terry Oden said he thinks the aesthetics will be the biggest potential barrier to allowing for the devises to be installed. City Planner Dana Hazen said she does not see many drawbacks to them. “I think they tend to blend into the background,” Hazen said. The city would receive revenue from cell service providers for use of the new technology after it was installed, but the amount has yet to be determined. Mountain Brook and Birmingham are currently the only cities in Alabama that have been approached about adding the ordinance to adopt the new technology. The draft of the amendment for the Telecommunication Towers ordinance is still preliminary. A revised version of the amendment should come back before the council sometime in the future with the aim of getting an ordinance in place before a carrier approaches the city about an agreement.

Village Living

A10 • August 2015

Work begins on gardens-zoo connector

By MADOLINE MARKHAM Brian Barr could see an open door from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to the Birmingham Zoo the morning of July 1. A new gate will soon be open at the back of the gardens that will allow pedestrian access from the gardens across the new Cahaba Road roundabout to enter the Birmingham Zoo. Work was just beginning on opening that new entrance permanently, but those who attended the ribbon cutting for the new roundabout that day got a sneak peek at what the new connectivity will look like. Barr, the president of the gardens Board of Directors, said the event doubled as a ground breaking for the new gardens entrance, which will feature bike racks, a map and a complete renovation of the Lawler Gates. “This is a really exciting time for us to be in two places in one,” said Zoo Board President and Mountain Brook resident Wally Nall. “It’s a great setup for the right direction of things to come.” Valerie Abbott, District 3 representative for the Birmingham City Council, touted the health benefits for everyone who will be able to use the new sidewalk along Cahaba Road. “We put the road on a diet,” she said. “Speeders will have a lot harder time speeding now too.” U.S. Rep. Spencer Bacchus helped secure funding for the roundabout project through a federal SAFETEA grant, and the City of Birmingham matched it. Leaders who spoke also recognized the importance of the joint projects to bring together Homewood, Mountain Brook, Birmingham and Jefferson County.

Birmingham Mayor William Bell and Mountain Brook City Council Member Jesse Vogtle shared a pair of scissors at the ribbon cutting for the new Cahaba Road roundabout on July 1. Photo by Madoline Markham.

“This is kind of a like a spoke, a hub that connects everybody,” Mountain Brook City Council Member Jesse Vogtle said. Other upcoming improvements to the gardens will include a new pedestrian crosswalk outside the main entrance on Lane Parke Road, a new path for the Southern Living Garden,

new trash and recycling receptacles, new signage, path repairs, new swings and water feature repairs. These collective Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens projects will cost more than $700,000. “These projects are focused on improving The Gardens’ experiencefor all of our visitors and

enhancing our connectivityto local amenities, especially the Birmingham Zoo,” said Executive Director and CEO Fred Spicer. “They also illustrate how private funding can be used to augment public funding to increase value, functionality and aesthetics.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A11

Gaston receives city management award Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston will receive the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Academic Award in September. In addition to his role as city manager, Gaston has taught at Regent University’s Robertson School of Government since 2014. Students in Gaston’s Master of Public AdministraSam Gaston tion (MPA) program at Regent and his former students at UAB, where he taught from 1999-2014, nominated him for the award. “His teaching and mentoring skills are so remarkable that, when I accepted the position at Regent University, I looked for opportunities to integrate my new MPA students with Professor Gaston,” said Regent MPA Program Director Dr. James D. Slack. “In my mind,

Professor Gaston was uniquely and exceptionally qualified. His record of classroom excellence and mentoring success quickly convinced my colleagues of the wisdom in pursuing Professor Gaston for this new position. His colleagues, and his students, do not regret that decision.” The ICMA award winner is chosen from hundreds of MPA programs across the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. Gaston’s expertise and teaching focus on city/ county management and public administration leadership and ethics. He is past president of the 9,000-member ICMA, past regional vice president of ICMA and past president of the Alabama City-County Management Association. Gaston has served as Mountain Brook’s city manager since 1993.

ALDOT considering four-arrow lights By ERICA TECHO The Alabama Department of Transportation is working to replace left turn signals with a four-arrow turn signal. A four-arrow turn signal was installed at U.S. 280 at Overton Road in December, but there is no set time line for more along 280. There are plans for 17 four-arrow lights to be installed in southern Alabama, along Highway 98. “At this time, we only have that one, and we’re still monitoring its operation,” said Dejarvis Leonard, regional engineer for the East Central Region. “We are reviewing other locations.”

Leonard said ALDOT is looking at other locations to see if a new traffic light would be beneficial as well as to see if the light at Overton Road works well enough to consider changes elsewhere. This is standard for changes in traffic signals, he said. These signals are the result of the recently adopted Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices guidelines, according to DriveSafeAlabama.com. A study by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and Federal Highway Administration found a flashing yellow light was better for drivers.

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August 2015 • A13

Coming Soon Judith Bright Artisanal Jewelry is opening Sept. 17 in Mountain Brook Village at 2514 Montevallo Road between Marella and Oli.O. The line of handmade jewelry has stores in the 12 South neighborhood of Nashville and the VirginiaHighland neighborhood of Atlanta. judithbright.com

Relocations and Renovations Selman and Co. Barber Shop has moved to 5 Dexter Ave. The shop, owned by Buddy Selman, was previously located in the former CVS building on Church Street. It is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 870-9983

News and Accomplishments Urban Cookhouse, 212 Country Club Park, has added strawberry lemonade milkshakes to its menu. Restaurant owners purchase 1,000 gallons of strawberries annually from Harvest Farm in Cullman to make the lemonade and shakes. 803-3535, urbancookhouse.com

Hirings and Promotions Always Best Care of Birmingham, a non-medical and medical in-home care provider located at 4 Ofﬁce Park Circle, Suite 109, welcomed Gloria Baldwin as its new stafﬁng coordinator. 874-9730, alwaysbestcare-birmingham.com

Business news

to share? to share? Business7 news

Whole Foods, 3100 Cahaba Village Plaza, has added a new growler station as well as new signage, new seating and a remodeled kids area in the café. The updates were unveiled at a grand reopening in July. 912-8400, wholefoodsmarket.com

Vino, 1930 Cahaba Road, is building a new cocktail and oyster bar in conjunction with Gallery 1930’s space. It is slated to open by the end of the summer. 870-8404, vinobirmingham.com

LAH Real Estate, 2850 Cahaba Road, Suite 200, has hired Pauline Markward as a residential Realtor. 870-8580, lahrealestate.com

Anniversaries

Mountain Brook Sporting Goods, 66 Church St., is celebrating its 25th anniversary. 870-3257

Coming Soon Coming Soon

Business news Expansion Expansion

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Mountain Brookand and mortar want to share If youin are in a brick business your event with the community, in Mountain Brook and want to share let us know. your event with the community, let us know.

Coming Soon Village Living iving Village Living Email dan@villagelivingonline.com

Expansion Email dan@villagelivingonline.com

If you are in a brick and mortar business in Mountain Brook and want to share your event with the community, let us know.

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Voted

BEST OF MOUNTAIN BROOK Village Living Best Mexican Food

Village Living

A14 • August 2015

Community Crestline student raises money for breast cancer research in memory of her aunt

Sam Chesebro earns Eagle rank

By MADOLINE MARKHAM Lilly Papapietro’s lemonade stand money jar filled with cash so quickly that she had to start storing it in her apron. Before long, she had raised $1,364 for breast cancer research. Lilly, a rising fifth-grader at Crestline Elementary, had seen the affects of breast cancer firsthand that week. She had planned the stand for Saturday, June 13 knowing that her aunt Carolina Higginbotham’s stage 4 cancer had become more aggressive since spring break. “I don’t want to live in a world with cancer,” Lilly said of her motivation for the stand. That Wednesday, Higginbotham passed away at age 40, and her funeral was scheduled for the Monday after the lemonade stand. But Lilly decided the stand would go on. She used her own money to buy a pink tablecloth, pink cups and other decorations to serve lemonade and counted out quarters at the cash register. Lilly made a poster with her aunt’s photo and tied popcorn bags with pink ribbon to go with the lemonade, which of course was pink too. That day she set up shop in front of her dad Mauricio’s restaurant, Brick & Tin in Mountain Brook Village. “We felt like this it was a ray of sunshine in all of this sadness,” Lilly’s mom

Sam Chesebro

Sam Chesebro achieved the rank of Eagle Scout on April 9 at his Eagle Board of Review. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 28 at Independent Presbyterian Church. Sam earned 24 merit badges along with several special awards including the prestigious Arrow of Light and the God and Country Award. Sam also held several leadership positions since joining the troop in 2011. Sam’s Eagle Scout project was to create an arbor and trail at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The trail serves to welcome the community to join us for worship. This trail starts with the arbor at Overton Road and goes to the outdoor chapel and on to the church. Sam also serves as an acolyte at St. Stephen’s. Sam is a sophomore at Mountain Brook Junior High School, where he pole vaults on the junior varsity track team. Sam is the son of Kaci and Mark Chesebro of Mountain Brook.

Lilly Papapietro, who is pictured with her brother Thomas, set up a lemonade stand to raise money for breast cancer research. Photo courtesy of the Papapietro family.

Susan said. “I think there is a lot of power in a child getting involved in this.” Lilly didn’t charge a specific price for her goods but simply asked for a donation. Many who came by skipped the lemonade and just donated money. Higginbotham’s parents, husband and son were among those who came. “It got everyone out in memory of [Carolina],” Susan said. “We were so proud of [Lilly]. It was all her idea.” Susan has long known Camper O’Neal, whose mom Dolly started the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, so the decision of where to give the $1,364 Lilly raised

was easy knowing they wanted the research money to stay local. When Susan contacted the BCRFA about passing on the donation, they invited Lilly to come to their board meeting later that week to present it, and she did just that. Lilly has held other lemonade stands in the past and sometimes donates money she earns to her church, St. Stephen’s Episcopal. “It feels like I’m making my own business,” she said. She also enjoys running and participates in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure each fall.

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VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A15

Lamott, other speakers coming to Canterbury this fall Canterbury United Methodist Church will host a well known writers and personalities for its fall speaker series. Tickets for bestselling author Anne Lamott’s Nov. 1 talk have already sold out, but a new set of tickets to a simulcast in an overflow room at Canterbury will be available at a lower rate. Lamott is the author of Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith; Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three

Essential Prayers; Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life; Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace; and other titles. Her event will take place from 7:308:30 p.m. On Sept. 13, Hal Edward Runkel will kick off the series with a talk on “Scream Free Marriage: Calming Down, Growing Up, and Getting Closer” on Sept. 13 at 9:30 a.m. An evening program may also be

announced at a later date. On Oct. 4, Glennon Doyle Melton, author of the popular blog Momastery and the New York Times best-seller Carry On, Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy, Beautiful Life, will speak from 6-7:30 p.m. at the church. For more information, visit canterburyumc.org/speakers Author Anne Lamott will speak at Canterbury UMC on Nov. 1.

Bands wanted for this year’s Crestline Rocks

Local bands perform on stage at last year’s Crestline Rocks. Photo by Madison Miller.

Area bands can compete to play in front of crowd in Crestline Village in October. Mason Music, Otey’s and PreSchool Partners are recruiting music talent for the third annual Crestline Rocks event on Sunday, Oct. 11. The event will take place on the grassy lawn across from the Emmet O’Neal Library. All proceeds from Crestline Rocks will go directly to PreSchool Partners’s programs that prepare 3- and 4-year-old at-risk children and their families for kindergarten in the Birmingham City Schools. Interested bands will begin a two-week challenge that will run Sept. 1-14 and will determine line-up for event day. Six

slots are available in the line up, and the winner of Vote by Donation will be the 2015 headliner for Crestline Rocks. The lineup will be announced on Sept. 15. The top tow winners of Vote by Donation will have their choice of two prize pool options. All bands that raise $250 or more for Crestline Rocks will receive a Prize Bag. Interested bands should submit at YouTube video to crestlinerocks@preschool-partners.org for consideration by Aug. 15. For more information about sponsorships for the event, contact Allene Neighbors at allene@preschool-partners. org or 951-3398.

Village Living

A16 • August 2015

MBJH students to support MS Society with kickball tourney Mountain Brook Junior High students will “kick” multiple sclerosis at their 4th Annual Kick MS Tournament, a fundraiser to benefit the Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of the National MS Society. This year’s kickball tournament will take place Sunday, Aug. 16 at Mountain Brook High School from 1:30-7 p.m. The tradition began in 2013 after a dugout discussion led four friends to discover two of their teammates’ mothers were suffering from multiple sclerosis, a debilitating disease of the central nervous system. “It’s quite amazing to see what these students have accomplished just in the short time this tournament has taken place. They started about two years ago with this idea, and it’s just continued to grow every year since,” said Andrew Bell, chapter president of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Last year 256 Mountain Brook Junior High students participated in the Kick MS Tournament.

Alabama-Mississippi Chapter. Bell said the tournament raised more than $11,000 the first year with 98 participants. Last year, the fundraiser expanded to two dates to accommodate the 256 participants and raised more than $40,000.

Mountain Brook resident Lori Smith said she is touched by the work her children and their friends are doing to end this disease. “I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart,” Smith said. “It’s truly a blessing and I just can’t thank these kids enough for all that they’ve done

Library to host Pulitzer Prize-winning author for 50th anniversary To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Emmet O’Neal Library is hosting Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin on Sept. 12. Tickets will for the event are available starting this month. A few of her many New York Times bestselling titles include The Bully Pulpit, Team of Rivals and No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. The ticketed event will kick off with a reception followed by a talk and signing. Copies of Goodwin’s books will be available to purchase. Also as a part of the anniversary celebration, the library is holding a contest for kids and adults who have read 50 books since November 2014. More information on it is

available at the second floor reference desk. The Children’s Department dressing up from different decades of the last fifty years. Have your photograph made in our special photo booth and enter our contest. Also to commemorate the library’s 50th, adults and kids can participate in a contest if they have read 50 books since November 2014. In the Children’s Department, kids can dress up from different decades of the last 50 years, have their photograph made in a special photo booth and enter to win prizes. Tickets for the Goodwin event are $50 and will be sold at the library beginning Aug. 3. For more information, call the Reference Desk at 445-1121.

for us that live with MS. We are so grateful for the funds they’ve raised and for just helping to raise awareness within our community.” -Submitted by Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of the National MS Society

Foundation fashion show moves to new hotel

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Fashions for the Foundation has a new venue — the Grand Bohemian Hotel at Lane Parke. The annual show benefits the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation and will once again be sponsored by Schaeffer Eye Center. This year, it is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9 at 11:30 a.m. Like in years past, Mountain Brook students, teachers, administrators and parents will walk the runway to show off fashions from local retailers. The Grand Bohemian Hotel is scheduled to open in October. Tickets will soon be available at mtnbrookschoolsfoundation.com.

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A17

Boiling N’ Bragging gets a jump start on football season

Big Al and Aubie will attend Boiling N’ Bragging outside Otey’s Tavern this month. Photo courtesy of Children’s of Alabama.

Football fans can kick off tailgate season early at Otey’s Tavern on Saturday, Aug. 15. Boiling N’ Bragging, scheduled for 6-9 p.m., will benefit for the Critical Care Transport program at Children’s of Alabama . For the seventh straight year, Rotary District 6860 is hosting the event and its low country boil. It will also feature live music, $1 drink specials, kids’ activities and a celebrity appearance by Lance Taylor from WJOX’s Roundtable. “We are thrilled about this partnership and couldn’t be more excited about this event,” said Jason Peterson, transport coordinator at Children’s. “It’s a great opportunity for people in the community to not only come together to

celebrate the start of football season, but also make a great impact on our program and the children we serve.” Since 1983, the Critical Care Transport team has transported more than 1,000 critically ill and injured children each year. The team members include highly trained registered nurses and respiratory therapists with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care. At the event, guests are encouraged to wear their team colors. This year’s event is sponsored by Charter Communications. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, and kids age 10 and younger get in free. To register online, visit boilingnbragging.org.

Mountain Brook dining spots participate in Birmingham Restaurant Week This year Zagat ranked Birmingham “America’s No. 1 Next Hot Food City,” and Birmingham Restaurant Week plans to celebrate its culinary culture Aug. 14-23. Mountain Brook restaurants that have already committed to participate are: Chez Lulu, Davenport’s, La Paz, Maki Fresh Cahaba Village, The Gardens Café and Vino. In total, 50 establishments participated last year. During the 10 days, restaurants will offer special two and/or three-course prix fixe lunch and/or dinner menus for $5, $10, $20 or $30 per person. Several menus will also include beer and/or wine flight components, brunch offerings and other drink specials. Restaurant Week is organized by REV

Birmingham, which works to revitalize places and energize business to create vibrancy in the city of Birmingham. Last year the event brought on a 20 percent average increase in restaurant sales compared to other 10-day periods. “Our hope is that this 10-day event will draw attention to the top-notch locally owned dining opportunities right here in Birmingham,” said James Little, BRW creator/director and district manager of REV. “Additionally, Birmingham Restaurant Week’s economic impact helps positively impact our community, business owners and residents.” For more information, visit bhamrestaurantweek.com.

Smith named Man of the Year Fred Smith has been named the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Man of the Year for Birmingham. Smith, a Realtor with RealtySouth’s Crestline branch, has been involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for more than 25 years. “I was 18 years old when a friend of my parents and a member of my sailing club, Stan Wrobel, died of leukemia,” Smith said. “As a result of Mr. Wrobel’s death, Pine Harbor Yacht Club, now Birmingham Sailing Club, started the Leukemia Cup. This has turned into a worldwide fundraising event that I am proud to say I was a part of from day one.” The Man & Woman of the Year candidates raise funds for LLS blood cancer research in honor of local children who are blood cancer survivors, the Boy & Girl of the Year. Whoever raises the most money in the 10-week campaign is awarded the title. Smith raised more than $45,000 for this

Fred Smith

year’s campaign, which ended June 25. To learn more about his campaign, visit soldbyfred.com/ lls-man-of-the-year-campaign/. Will Haver, owner of Otey’s Tavern and Taco Mama, also campaigned for Man of the Year. -Submitted by RealtySouth

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A18

Crestline Tent Sale returns with ‘next level’ features By ERICA TECHO Residents can expect the same sense of community and a few new elements at this year’s Crestline Tent Sale. The tent sale started three years ago as a way to increase summertime sales. Most retailers say summer is a tough time for business, said Suzan Doidge, executive director of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. “In every village we try to have some sort of event that directs revenue to that particular area,” Doidge said. “Crestline Tent Sale kind of came after a great discussion, and maybe a little debate about why not all businesses could participate in Market Day.” Market Day is a yearly sale in Mountain Brook Village that has been going on for 14 years. Crestline’s Tent Sale is similar in that it features street sales and helps merchants clear summer merchandise. Doidge said new businesses will be involved in this year’s sale and some “next level” aspects such as trunk shows or participation from local artists could be added. “This will be our third year. It’s been a process of growth for us,” said Julie Howell, owner of Lamb’s Ears in Crestline Village. “I think the community looks for those annual events that they almost can count on as being recurring events in the community.” Last year’s tent sale included musical performances, and this year the Mountain Brook High School band will perform. The football team will also be there, participating in a sort of “pep rally,” Doidge said. The event will help kick off the Buy Local campaign as well as the new school year. “That’s something new we’ve added this year

Crestline Tent Sale Saturday, Aug. 15 Crestline Village Visit welcometomountainbrook.com

Lamb’s Ears owner Elizabeth Roberts stands with some of the items the store could have at the Crestline Tent Sale. Photo by Erica Techo.

that we haven’t done,” Doidge said. “Hopefully that’ll bring a lot of folks in to the community.” She said the new band director, Jason Smith, was enthusiastic about getting involved with the community through the tent sale. This year’s tent sale will be larger than past years, but Howell said the community has had trouble in growing the event because of a high number of restaurants. Participation from restaurant owners and non-retail businesses, however, has helped create a community atmosphere.

Chamber President and Otey’s Tavern owner Will Haver said the point of Crestline’s tent sale, however, is to not be restaurant-focused. “I’m very sensitive to the restaurant side of things because I feel the restaurants here in this community have a lot of events and things that are geared toward them, so I’m really retail-focused here,” Haver said. The amount of effort it takes to set up for the tent sale is another issue with getting more retailers to participate, Haver said. He hopes to get an

event company involved this year, taking some of the pressure off of store owners. “That’s the hardest part is getting people to participate because, you know, they’re busy running their stores,” Haver said. “… When you talk about man power, people aren’t really set up for that. It really is a lot of effort to make that happen.” The beneﬁt of the tent sale, however, comes in the sense of community. Elizabeth Roberts, also an owner at Lamb’s Ears, said bringing people out into the village helps spread a community feel and bring in new patrons. “Many people may not come here [to Lamb’s Ears], so it’s also a way to get new customers and show them what we have,” Roberts said. Haver said the possibility to bring in people outside of the community helps as well. “Maybe it’s someone from outside our community who now will come into the community to support some of our local businesses,” Haver said. “It gives the community something to do. It gives the business owner a chance to showcase their store and make an introduction. Because, you know, for me, any new customer can be a lifelong customer.” This year’s tent sale is Saturday, Aug. 15. Attendees can expect deals from Crestline shops and some restaurants in addition to the community atmosphere.

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A19

MITCHELL

CONTINUED from page A1 school systems are only responsible for children with special needs beginning at age 3, and even then they can often only qualify for 45 minutes of services a week. “These kids need hours a day,” Nancy said. “It’s way beyond what any school system can provide.” Even at age 3 when Mitchell was nonverbal, he didn’t qualify for services through the state, Nancy said. Seeing the need in Birmingham, the Meislers founded a new center for children with autism just outside Mountain Brook. “I just felt like there was a need to create a center like this,” Allen said. “If I was going to help my child, I wanted to help other children too.” Mitchell’s Place became a nonprofit in 2004 and opened the doors of its new building in August 2005 — 10 years ago this month. At that time, Mitchell was 10. He would attend the after school program and summer camps for kids age 6-18, but he was then too old for its signature Early Learning Program (ELP) for preschoolers. “When [the Meislers] started Mitchell’s Place, it was selfless because it wasn’t for Mitchell. It was for younger families,” said current executive director Sandy Naramore. Naramore came to Mitchell’s Place after teaching special education at Crestline Elementary and meeting the Meislers when she worked at a summer program Mitchell attended as a student at Cherokee Bend. Dr. Matt Remick, Mitchell’s psychologist and now the center’s director, and Susan Mink, a Mountain Brook special education teacher who became its education director, were originally worried there wouldn’t be enough children for the initial three

Students in Mitchell’s Place’s Early Learning Program play on the center’s playground. Photo courtesy of Mitchell’s Place.

classrooms, but before long they had a waiting list. Today, there are six ELP classrooms and there’s still a waiting list. Families drive from as far as Wetumpka and Winfield to take their children to Mitchell’s Place, and some have relocated to Birmingham for its services. Tuition checks arrive from not just parents but also grandparents and cousins who want to help their family’s receive its services. Language learning The Early Learning Program for preschoolers is still Mitchell’s Place’s signature program. It targets children age 2-6 to prepare them for kindergarten. “Children often walk in with no language, and when they leave here, they are speaking,” Naramore said. “It’s incredible.” Each classroom has five children on the autism spectrum along with five “typical” children who serve as role models for the others. They learn just as Allen said Mitchell does — by imitation and repetition. Jamie Cowin, current

chairman of the organization’s board, experienced the ELP firsthand with his son Matthew. “It was very effective in getting him ready for elementary school, and it couldn’t have been a better experience,” Cowin said. “Even when he went on to first grade [at Mountain Brook Elementary], Mitchell’s Place sent two staff members with him into an introductory meeting at the school to let the public school staff know what they knew about him.” Children with autism function best on a schedule, but the program also teaches them what to do when they are not on a routine. “Even before a child goes to a public school, Mitchell’s Place does a lot to get them accustomed to how class behavior works, how to wait your turn, or stand in line or walk together,” Cowin said. “Those are simple sounding things, but they are very helpful to get a spectrum child indoctrinated to get ready for school.” Each classroom of 10 has a lead teacher with a master’s degree as well as two assistant teachers. Naramore said it’s the student-teacher ratio that

is so instrumental to how the kids learn. The typical children in the classroom flourish as well, Naramore said, learning about self confidence, differences and compassion. In fact, Birmingham-Southern students’ research found that their students’ language development is 10-12 months higher than students in other preschool programs. The program has also evolved over the past decade. “Autism is growing, but we have more research,” Naramore said. “We have learned so many more strategies and more of what works and what doesn’t.” Outside the classrooms, the center also offers speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry and applied behavior analysis (ABA) outpatient services. A child can come in for a diagnosis at 18 months and receive services through age 18. Each child in the classroom benefits from these programs, as well as teachers collaborate with different therapists to treat each child. “You shouldn’t have to have a psychologist across town and have a speech therapist in another area,” Nancy said. “Everything is here.” They have also added a one-on-one program based on the needs of the students. Its goal is to prepare a child for the center’s ELP program. “Everything we do is individualized,” Naramore said. “We don’t use cookie cutters.” Both the Meislers and Naramore emphasized what a “happy place” Mitchell’s Place is. The children are constantly learning, but they don’t even know it. Into the future Today, Mitchell, age 20, has graduated from Mountain Brook High School. Like everyone else he has met for the past 15 years, he remembers each of his classmates’ names and

birthdays. His photographic memory captures dates just as it does names of songs and their corresponding track on a CD. He’s also sharp with directions; his older sister would take him with her when she first started driving to serve as her built-in GPS. People remember him too, Nancy said. This school year will be Mitchell’s final in Turning Points, a program on Samford University’s campus for high school graduates 21 and younger with special needs who have finished high school. The Meislers are still actively involved with Mitchell’s Place and serve on its board. Nancy still helps with fundraising, and Allen helps with janitorial services and finances. Students only pay about half of the actual cost of Mitchell’s Place’s programs, so the center relies on fundraising and grants to keep the classrooms staffed with professionals 8 a.m.-3 p.m. year-round. In the early days before they hired a development director, Nancy would write grants rather than pay someone to do it and relied on their family’s connections in the community. “There are a lot of people affected by autism who have supported us,” Nancy said. Back in 2006, they had their first Night at the Oscars event, a fundraiser that still continues today. Today Mitchell’s Place is now hoping to expand its building to add six more classrooms, a project that will cost around $1 million. It would allow children on their waiting list a spot in the program to learn from Mitchell’s Place’s teachers and therapists. “I can’t speak highly enough of the staff and the love they give,” Nancy said. “That’s what keeps us going — seeing the results.” To learn more about Mitchell’s Place, visit mitchells-place.com.

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Village Living

A20 • August 2015

Carole Epstein retires after 30 years at City Hall By OLIVIA BURTON In her time at City Hall, Carole Epstein has seen a lot of changes. When she was being interviewed for her first job with the city of Mountain Brook in February of 1986, City Manager Wayne Campbell told her that the city would be switching to computers. “Thirty years ago, I didn’t even know what a computer looked like,” she said. “But I was determined to learn how to operate one.” Epstein officially retired in July after almost 30 years of working at Mountain Brook’s City Hall. After she started the job, a lieutenant from the police station would come to City Hall every day to instruct her in basic computer skills such as word processing. Epstein would teach herself how to use other programs in her free time. At age 41, Epstein enrolled at Samford University. Over the next eight years, she worked at City Hall full time during the day and went to classes at night. “I didn’t have a computer at home, so I would go back to the office and do my homework and term papers,” she said. Because her studies related to her job, the city paid for Epstein’s tuition and books. Epstein’s son graduated from the University of Montevallo on a Friday night in 1996, and Epstein herself graduated from Samford the next day with a bachelor’s degree in administrative services. “This has been a lifelong dream for me,” she told The Birmingham News in 1996. In the same article, she said that City Manager Sam Gaston encouraged her to keep going whenever she had a difficult day. “It was fantastic because I knew that without education I was not going to progress,” Epstein

Carole Epstein works with Mayor Terry Oden in City Hall in Crestline. Photo by Olivia Burton.

said. “It was a benefit to me personally and to the city.” During her time in Mountain Brook, Epstein has served as executive assistant to three city managers, four mayors, and multiple boards and commissions. The Birmingham Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals elected her as Administrative Professional of the Year in 1999, and she served as its president in 2001. Epstein also served as president of the Jefferson County City Clerks Association in 2012.

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“I do whatever needs to be done and I don’t question it, I just do it. Get the job done!” said Epstein. “We have to be able to do that to provide the level of services that we do to our residents.” With her many roles at City Hall, city officials say Epstein will be difficult to replace. “She thinks on her feet,” said Mayor Terry Oden. “She takes all the incoming calls and can field them wherever they need to go. She always gives the right answers, and she’s an original thinker.” City Hall employees said they will miss

Epstein’s friendly personality in addition to her hardworking and dependable character, just as she said she will miss them. “I’ve never seen her in a grumpy mood,” said Oden. “I love coming to work, and I’m very sad that I’m leaving,” said Epstein. Epstein has lived in Mountain Brook for 23 years and raised two children in the Mountain Brook school system. She looks forward to sleeping late and taking road trips to parts of the United States that she has never visited before during her retirement.

VillageLivingOnline.com

Last Chance to submit for

August 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ A21

Summer

FUN

Photo Contest

Winner recieves $50 gift card to Alabama Outdoors #MBSummerFun To enter, email your photos in a jpeg format to photos@villagelivingonline.com. Only four photos are allowed per person. Winners will be announced in the September issue.

Category 1: Any summer fun photo Category 2: A summer fun photo displaying a copy of Village Living wherever you are

Deadline is August 9, 2015

Village Living

A22 • August 2015

A set of new homes has been developed on Euclid Avenue between Camellia Drive and Beech Street. Each occupies half of the previous lot. Photo by Keith McCoy.

CRESTLINE

CONTINUED from page A1 kids and then move to Cherokee Bend or Brookwood Forest when you had your third child to get more land and space.” Growing pains Both City Manager Sam Gaston and City Planner Dana Hazen acknowledged that Crestline residents have voiced complaints about recent construction in the Crestline area. “Crestline was historically built with little cottages,” Hazen said. “If you drive up Euclid, you can see a pretty good example of one-story, two- and three-bedroom houses on the north side of the street. Those have been torn down consistently over the years and replaced with much larger houses.” Some residents worry that the neighborhood is becoming too crowded, while others are concerned that the aesthetics of the new and

remodeled homes do not fit in with the more traditional cottage style. “When people see one house go down and two go up in its place, they start to get nervous,” Hazen said. But in many cases, she explained, an old house may have been originally built over two lots, making it legal to build two houses on the separate lots after tearing down the old house. On Euclid Avenue between Camellia Drive and Beech Street, for example, four lots have recently been developed where two smaller houses once stood. The new homes, which are 35 feet from the property line in accordance with current regulations, are much larger than the nearby traditional one-story cottages that stand about 55 feet from the property line. As a Crestline resident, Canterbury said that she can see both views toward the changes. “I personally enjoy the growth and change, but I can understand how some people feel like it’s being overdeveloped and starting to look much different than it did four years ago,” she

said. With five children, including Ava (10), Abby (8), Annabel (2), Win (1) and Liam (1), Canterbury appreciates how Crestline’s growth has brought in new businesses and restaurants, giving her family more of a reason to stay. Winds of change Because Crestline was not a part of the original Jemison development, its lots are smaller on average than those in older areas of Mountain Brook. According to Gaston, most of the lots in Crestline are zoned Residence B and Residence C, with minimum areas of 10,000 square feet and 7,500 square feet respectively. Residence A, the most prevalent zoning in Mountain Brook, has a minimum area of 30,000 square feet. In spite of its relatively smaller lot sizes, Crestline’s recent trend toward larger and larger homes can be traced back to severe weather in the early ’90s. After straight-line winds in 1992 damaged

many of the older cottage-style houses in Crestline, residents took the opportunity to build larger homes. “Before that, the houses in Crestline were generally three-bedroom, two-bath starter homes,” Hereford said. Instead of moving to other parts of Mountain Brook for more land and a larger home, more residents began to stay in Crestline. “That was supposedly the starting point of the rebirth of Crestline,” said Gaston. “You started seeing Crestline become a hot area with many people buying small homes and either greatly expanding them or tearing them down to build a larger home.” In the late ’90s, city renovations to Crestline Village made the area more appealing with the addition of sidewalks, decorative lampposts, landscaping, streetscape furniture and additional parking. The housing boom of 2000-2004 increased the number of people beginning to tear down Crestline’s old cottages and build larger homes, and the trend continues today.

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VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • A23

Crestline Elementary School Population Trends

A History of Growth 1907: The Crestline Land Company purchases land from James Eastis, creating “the subdivision of Crestline Heights.”

900

1926: Crestline is home to 10 houses, Crestline School and White’s Dairy on the current site of the Crestline Elementary playground, according to Helen Pitman Snell’s 1990 book Crestline: a Timeless Neighborhood. Near the present location of the Crestline Post Ofﬁce on Montclair Road, about 50 men mined iron ore at Helen Bess Mines, according to Snell. Their children were some of the ﬁrst students at Crestline School before the miners moved to Log Town near Eastwood Mall during the ’20s.

800

700

600

1942: Mountain Brook is ofﬁcially incorporated into a city.

500

1959: Mountain Brook Schools breaks off from Jefferson County, and the Mountain Brook Board of Education acquires Crestline School.

400 2001

2002 2003

2004 2005

2006 2007 2008 2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

1992: Straight-line winds knock down trees and damage homes in Crestline, leading many residents to begin remodeling and enlarging their homes.

2014

The years indicate the year each school year began.

“I’ve had three or four people in the last year come to me looking for a teardown,” said Hereford. “Those are getting fewer and farther between because there’s such a high demand in Crestline.” Supply and demand The recent housing trends in the Crestline area may explain the increase in students at Crestline Elementary School (CES). “There aren’t many new lots being created. But what you’re seeing is small houses being torn down and built into bigger houses with more people,” said Hazen.

In the 2001-2002 school year, CES had a student enrollment of 652, according to the Mountain Brook Board of Education. By 2014-2015, that number had risen to 777. It peaked in 20112012 at 831 students. To accommodate the inﬂux of students, CES has added several new classrooms as well as an addition to the lunchroom. “Space isn’t a huge concern to us because as we’ve needed more space, we’ve added space,” said CES principal Laurie King, who has worked at the school for over 30 years in teaching and administration. King described CES as a family, saying that parents are often surprised by how close-knit

it feels in spite of its size. “It’s a community school,” she said. Lasting appeal Like CES, the Crestline neighborhood has maintained a strong sense of community and friendliness in spite of recent growth. Melanie Couch moved to Mountain Brook with her family in June of 2013 from the Hollywood neighborhood of Homewood. Her daughter, Eleanor, is about to start second grade at Crestline Elementary, and her son, Jack, turned 3 in June. “We were interested in being in a place where

our friends’ children and our children could grow up together,” she said, citing the close proximity of the Tot Lot, the library and the restaurants and shops of Crestline Village as major draws to the area. “This is where we want to be,” said Couch. “For us this is deﬁnitely not a starter home, this is where we see our kids growing up.” For more information about zoning in Mountain Brook, visit mtnbrook.org/Default. asp?ID=54&pg=Planning.

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Village Living B Spartans season preview SECTION

School House B8 Sports B11 Faith B13 Calendar B14

AUGUST 2015

2015 Season Preview

Standout Mountain Brook LB returns from broken leg injury By STEVE IRVINE Losing Joe Donald early last season left way more than just a 6-foot-3, 210pound hole in the Mountain Brook High defense. It took away the Spartans’ emotional and physical leader. “The thing that Joe brings to the table, to me, is everybody looks for that personality to gravitate toward and rally

around,” said Mountain Brook head coach Chris Yeager. “He’s that personality for those guys [on defense]. I was proud of the way our defense played. They didn’t fall apart. But I felt like with him, we could play with anybody in the region.” It was a difﬁcult year for Mountain

See FOOTBALL | page B12

W2W_aug2015community_print.pdf 1 7/20/2015 5:02:55 PM

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Village Living

B2 • August 2015

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VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • B3

Back to School

Alabama tax-free weekend to be held Aug. 7-9 By OLIVIA BURTON

The Pants Store in Crestline Village will host its annual tent sale over the tax-free weekend in the lawn next to the store. Photo by Olivia Burton.

Alabama’s annual Back-to-School tax-free weekend will take place from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7 to midnight on Sunday Aug. 9. Mountain Brook will be participating in the tax exemption, as well as Hoover, Vestavia, Homewood and Shelby County. In addition to the sales tax exemption, many stores will feature special sales over the weekend. The Pants Store in Crestline, for example, will host its annual tent sale on the lawn next to the store. All summer clothes and shoes will go on sale to make room for fall items. “It’s probably one of our biggest sales,” said store manager Katherine Starks. “There’s really not a whole lot in the store that isn’t marked down.”

General-use apparel such as dresses, jackets, pants, shirts, shoes and underwear will be exempt from Alabama’s sales tax over the weekend. All clothing items must be under $100. Clothing accessories such as cosmetics, jewelry, wallets and watches, protective equipment such as tool belts and hard hats, and sport or recreational equipment such as goggles and shoulder pads will not be exempt from sales tax. The exemption also applies to computers and other electronics under $750, school supplies under $50, educational books under $30 and required textbooks between $30 and $50. Furniture, video games, magazines and newspapers will remain taxable. For more information and a complete list of exemptions, visit revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/ salestaxhol.cfm.

Village Living

B4 • August 2015

Friday night lights New band director plans to bring more energy, community involvement to football games By MADOLINE MARKHAM Friday nights will feel a little different this fall. New Mountain Brook High School Band Director Jason Smith plans to step up the energy in the halftime show this year. A mix of California-themed songs will appeal to both students and their parents, and the addition of stages on the field and guest vocalists will add more depth to the show, he said. “I think people will be surprised at how interactive and fun it will be to watch,” Smith said. “I want everyone to see the show at the first football game and have the desire to watch it again every week just to see what they miss or what has been added from week to week.” The show will open with “Going Back to Cali” by LL Cool J, then move into a rock/jazz version of “Route 66,” followed by a medley of The Mamas and The Papas’ “California Dreamin’,” Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and David Lee Roth’s “California Girls.” The show wraps up by reaching back to “Going to California” by Led Zeppelin and a finale of “California Love” by 2Pac. That energy from halftime will carry over into the rest of Friday night football as well. Smith, who started in the position in January after longtime director Dr. Frank Blanton retired, said he has been working with head football coach Chris Yeager and Athletic Director Benny Eaves as well as the cheerleading sponsor Shane Martin to create more unity and community among all the students. Before kickoff, the band will perform a pregame show on the field that includes stand tunes, a patriotic medley and “The Star Spangled Banner” before forming a tunnel for the football team to run through. At the end of each game, the band, cheerleaders and student section will

Jason Smith has been the band director at Mountain Brook High School since January. Photo by Madoline Markham.

all join together to sing the alma mater. “We want to make sure there is a sense of camaraderie between the band, the cheerleaders and the student section, and that they know we are all there to support all the students involved,” Smith said. “And we want the football team to know we are all there to support their success on the field.” Growing a band program is a particular challenge in Mountain Brook, Smith said, with so many other activities garnering the attention of potential band members. The band program

begins in sixth grade, with students from all four elementary school taking a bus to Mountain Brook Junior High for their last class of the day. About 30 to 40 students participate in the sixth-grade beginning band. Even with all the competing options for students, Smith sees band as a unique opportunity. “Music triggers both the cognitive and affective mind,” Smith said. “Students in band experience facts and figures but also develop appreciation for art. That doesn’t happen in any other teaching environment.”

Smith has always been involved in band programs that have grown during his time with them. The band at Western Carolina University grew from 83 members when he started his freshman year to 250 when he graduated. At Enterprise High School, where he was an assistant director for 11 years, he grew the drum line to compete at percussion world championships. And at Opelika High School, where he spent the past seven years directing the 200-piece Spirit of the South Marching Band, he worked to create community with the band program like he plans to do at Mountain Brook. For Smith, the first step in enhancing the program at Mountain Brook, which currently has about 100 members in the field show including Dorians and color guard, is to listen to students. He also wants not only the marching band but also the jazz band and symphonic band to be more involved in the community. As an example, he pointed to this spring when the band marched through the hallways of Brookwood Forest Elementary as a part of its 50th anniversary celebration, calling students out for a special photo on the school’s field. “Hopefully, if the band is doing their job in the community, you will see students that want to be involved in band and in the student section,” Smith said. “Parents will hopefully see the change in the students and the connection between all of them.” Smith has successfully recruited all three of his children to play in band, and this year he is also looking forward to teaching all three of his kids, Braeden (10th grade), Grayson (seventh grade) and Jaimes Katelyn (sixth grade at Cherokee Bend), in an area that he said feels a lot like the mountains of North Carolina where he grew up. “You can feel the energy here,” he said. “It’s a neat place to live and work.”

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VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • B5

Alabama’s Teacher of Year moves on to help ‘all kids learn’ By MADOLINE MARKHAM Ann Marie Corgill believes all kids can learn and teach others to learn. At Cherokee Bend Elementary, her fourth-grade students took part in an “Ed Camp” where they first learned about coding, movie making and other technologies. Then they taught other students — and then teachers — the skills. “It was not me spreading the word, but the children spreading it,” Corgill said. “I want all children to be empowered so that they can take on a challenge and teach others.” Now Corgill, last year’s Alabama’s Teacher of the Year and a top-four finalist for National Teacher of the Year, is moving to a new position in Birmingham City Schools, where she will teach second grade at Oliver Elementary. “I believe all kids can do this kind of work I am doing in Mountain Brook,” she said. “I can’t tell the story of being everywhere if I haven’t been everywhere. It’s important to push myself into new challenges and to learn from different communities.” Corgill started her teaching career in 1994 at Brookwood Forest Elementary and eventually left to teach for seven years in New York City in a neighborhood school of a diverse, affluent area. For the past three years, she was back in Mountain Brook at Cherokee Bend Elementary. Corgill was first exposed to a

Ann Marie Corgill stands with her first Cherokee Bend fourth-grade class on a field trip to 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park. Photo courtesy of Ann Marie Corgill.

variety of schools when she began to speak about her book on teaching writing, Of Primary Importance, which was published in 2008. “For the first time, my eyes were opened to different possibilities and resources and needs in a global way,” she said. Her new school, Oliver Elementary, is also part of the Woodlawn

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Innovation Network. The network of schools, which also includes Avondale Elementary, Hayes Pre-K-8, Putnam Middle and Woodlawn High, had applied for an innovation grant that allows them to focus on project-based learning. The schools’ new curriculum, which started last year, allows students to think critically and apply that thinking to solve real-world

problems. The network also partners with Jones Valley Teaching Farm and other local organizations and businesses for hands-on learning, providing for communitywide transformation. Corgill had been following the network’s work, but it wasn’t until April that she saw it firsthand. That month she visited Oliver as part of a Teacher

of the Year engagement and “saw what they were about.” The principal, Dr. Selena Florence, said that schools have to take care of the person before they take care of the academics. Corgill, too, believes in the importance of social and emotional concerns for students. By the first of May, Corgill had a job offer from Oliver, and her position became official at a board meeting at the end of the month. And so when the school year came to a close, she loaded up a U-Haul with 20 years’ worth of classroom supplies and said goodbye to Cherokee Bend. Corgill can recount story after story of what she learned in Mountain Brook, but she is now excited to be “a learner and a teacher” somewhere new. “We have so many things to offer them that they can be excited about,” she said. “It changes lives and it changes a community. This isn’t just about Woodlawn, it’s about transformation and growth in a city.” In one of her National Teacher of the Year interviews, Corgill was asked if she would move back to New York City. Her answer was negative. “We have work to do in Alabama,” she said. Most of all, Corgill is thankful to be back in the classroom come August. “I’m my best in the classroom teaching and learning with the kids,” she said.

Village Living

B6 • August 2015

Meet this year’s

PTO presidents Tanya Cooper Mountain Brook High School Background: Cooper graduated from MBHS and attended the University of Alabama. She has been married to her husband, Skip, for 33 years, and they have four children and three grandchildren. About MBHS PTO: According to Cooper, the

Kristin Ritter Mountain Brook Junior High Background: Ritter grew up in Texas and graduated from Rhodes College. She has been married to her husband, Bill, for nearly 20 years, and they have four children. About MBJH PTO: “Consolidating schools means that not only are there so many new parents with lots of talent, but also that the work is

MBHS PTO encourages parents to volunteer for over 25 committees at the high school and brings speakers to monthly meetings to inform parents and stimulate conversation. “All of our meetings have been in a round table setting to encourage involvement and parental participation,” she said. Looking ahead: In addition to bringing in engaging and relevant speakers, the MBHS PTO has started a capital campaign, Transformation 2016, to raise funds for the improvement of

spread out among these numbers,” Ritter said. “It is a privilege to be involved with an organization in which you can work with new people who have the same goal: to continue to be a presence in your children’s school life even when the child may not be so sure.” Looking ahead: “With funds raised, we will continue to update classrooms with new furniture,” Ritter said. She would like to see “better attendance at PTO meetings and engaging discussion of topics relevant to what is happening at MBJH.” Her ultimate goal is to build a better

By OLIVIA BURTON

the mall, library and lunchroom. This summer, the mall, which Cooper called “the hub of our school,” has received a “much-needed makeover” with charging stations, increased seating and a food cart. Best thing about MBHS: “It is a student-involved school, and we have some incredibly talented students who do many amazing things as well as administrators who go above and beyond,” Cooper said.

sense of community among all those involved at MBJH. What makes MBJH special: “New friends, new faces, new teachers and new opportunities are all part of the junior high experience,” Ritter said. “Students begin changing and finding their own places, and MBJH does a great job of giving them that opportunity.” But new opportunities and independence can also be the school’s greatest challenge, especially as it relates to social media. “We are all facing the same issues, and I do believe ‘it takes a village,’” Ritter said.

Amy Maziarz Brookwood Forest Elementary Background: Maziarz grew up in Guntersville, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Alabama. She and her husband, Jim, have two daughters. Maziarz is a broker and real estate agent with Red Hills Realty. About BWF PTO: “We have so many wonderful

Amy Littleton Cherokee Bend Elementary Background: Littleton grew up in Mountain Brook and graduated from Rhodes College before receiving a MS in physical therapy from UAB. She worked as a physical therapist at UAB before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Littleton and her husband, Michael, have three children. About CBS PTO: The Chief PTO supports facul-

Looking ahead: “The Chief PTO will continue to raise funds to support our school through our Chief Sponsors programs, Red and Yellow Color Run, Winter Dinner & Auction, sportswear and the spring carnival,” Littleton said. “We will also celebrate our 5th Annual ‘The Bend’s Got Tal-

Background: Redden attended Crestline and graduated from MBHS. After attending Vanderbilt University, Redden met her husband, Chuck, with whom she now has four children. About CES PTO: “The PTO allows parents to be involved at the school and helps cultivate what

Background: Lassiter grew up in Montgomery, attended Auburn University and graduated from law school at the University of Alabama. She practiced law for seven years before becoming a stay-at-home mom for her two girls. About MBE PTO: According to Lassiter, MBE

Looking ahead: The BWF PTO is working on a few changes to fundraisers, and they have begun construction on a portion of the lunchroom. “I am so excited to see the response from the

ty, staff, students and parents with over 50 committees. “Although we have many committees, we strive to work together as a community that provides our children with experiences that enhance their education,” Littleton said.

Britt Redden Crestline Elementary

Emily Lassiter Mountain Brook Elementary

families that are committed to making BWF the best it can be,” Maziarz said. “These families are always eager to help whenever help is needed.”

students and families when the work is complete,” said Maziarz. What makes BWF special: “The teachers and administrators at BWF are the best,” said Maziarz. “We are so blessed to have such caring and compassionate leadership at our school.”

ent Show.’ The Bend’s Den, our new collaborative learning classroom, will be available for all classes to use.” What makes CBS special: “FOAC [Fair Oaks Adventure Curriculum] is a team-building program whose activities promote healthy relationships and respectful communication with your peers,” Littleton said. “Ask any CBS graduate what the three rules of FOAC are, and they can quickly say, ‘I will be safe, I will do my best, I will value myself and others.’”

we refer to as the ‘Crestline Family,’” Redden said. Looking ahead: The new media center will open on the first day of school, thanks to last year’s PTO’s fundraising. “The media center will allow children to learn in a 21st century environment,” Redden said. The computer lab will also be moved and renovated.

What makes CES special: “We are the largest elementary school, but it does not feel that way,” Redden said. “Our administration and staff make sure that no child feels like a number and that every child has a chance to succeed. The PTO works to get parents involved at the school and helps facilitate events to connect families and faculty.”

PTO brings together the school’s dedicated teachers, administrators and staff with parents “who donate time and money to make our school the best it can be.”

for a new playground is nearing completion. “But one of the most exciting goals for me this year is to bring everyone together to celebrate our vibrant community,” Lassiter said.

Looking ahead: MBE recently received a grant that will help the school introduce STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to the students, and the design

What makes MBE special: Lassiter called MBE a fantastic school because of “passionate and dedicated teachers, highly skilled administrators, a great staff and engaged parents.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ B7

Village Living

B8 • August 2015

School House Crestline sixth-graders perform ‘The Lion King, Jr.’

Brookwood Forest welcomes new PTO officers

Outgoing PTO president and new parliamentarian Amy Sanders and new president Amy Maziarz.

By KATHLEEN WOODRY

Jake Fairbairn (Young Simba), Josh Padgett (Mufasa), Emma Williams (Rafiki) and Laurel Hand (Zazu).

By TRISH HAND Under the direction of creative Crestline music teachers Laura Butler and Janet Nelson, all 121 Crestline sixth graders recently performed Disney’s The Lion King Jr. Crestline was among one of the first schools to tackle this production since the script was just released in January. Students auditioned for parts, and many of the lead roles were double cast due to the large number of talented students in this class. Practices were held before school and during music classes for several months to prepare for the five performances that were

shared with Crestline parents and students. Parents and sixth-grade students voluntarily worked at the school alongside the music teachers for four Saturdays to design and build the elaborate set and constructing realistic costumes for each student. Then, before each show, parents and sixth grade teachers worked together to paint the faces of the entire cast. “This experience, which was only possible with administrative support, allowed our students to discover many of their own gifts in a way that sends them off to junior high with a deep sense of what they can accomplish working collaboratively,” music teacher Janet Nelson said.

At the end of last school year, Brookwood Forest Elementary’s Ranger PTO held its end of the year luncheon at the school. The Ranger PTO recognized outgoing president Amy Sanders and presented a donation to school principal Nathan Pitner. Volunteer committee chairs and room mothers were honored, and new officers were installed. Executive officers are: }} Amy Maziarz- president }} Tona Hitson- president elect/VP of communications }} Darcie Plowden- VP of

fund development }} Liz Sims- technology coordinator }} Hilary Gewant- technology coordinator elect }} Jenifer Kimbrough- treasurer }} Alison Taylor- treasurer elect }} Adrian Hughes- secretary }} Tracy Johnson- fall fundraiser chair }} Keely Culpepper- spring carnival chair }} Andrea Newell- winter fundraiser chair }} Amy Sanders- parliamentarian

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • B9

Summer fun and anticipation of a new school year at MBE By SHAUN FLYNN While still making summer memories in the heat of August, students are also turning their attention to the upcoming school year. A few MBE students checked in with Village Living

Woodson Canterbury Fifth grade

Summer fun: playing golf and baseball, and spending time with friends Missing from MBE during summer: my friends, recess and going on field trips Excited about/hoping to learn next year: science and dissecting frogs

Mary Jane Lassiter Fifth grade

to comment on three things: what they’re most enjoying about summer; what they miss about MBE during summer vacation; and what they are most excited about and/or hoping to learn during the 2015-2016 school year.

Drue Perkins Third grade

Summer fun: vacationing at Sea Island, Georgia Missing from MBE during summer: my teacher Ms. Brown and my friends Excited about/hoping to learn next year: how to make frozen yogurt

William Grubbs Second grade

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Summer fun: enjoying peace and quiet in the house because everyone is traveling Missing from MBE during summer: seeing all of my friends at the same time Excited about/hoping to learn next year: having all new teachers and rotating classrooms

Summer fun: playing ping pong and going to the beach Missing from MBE during summer: being with all of my friends Excited about/hoping to learn next year: getting a new teacher and raising butterflies then letting them go

Cherokee Bend School offers mini-courses

Reily Brown, Mary Winston Hendry, Catherine Corley, Millie Martin Dorman, Teddy Feig, Katie Kulhane, Helen Walthall, Sophie Wedge and Anna Kate Yeager participate in a cooking course.

By CATHERINE GASQUE As in years past, Cherokee Bend Elementary offered mini-courses to their graduating sixth graders during the last few weeks of school. Courses offered were robotics, go-carts,

ping pong, Project Runway, military, Minute to Win It, photography and cooking, among others topics. Each student selected courses of interest to them to attend. PTO Mini-Course committee chairs were Nancy Jernigan and Deb Shunnarah.

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Village Living

B10 • August 2015

MBE graduates receive achievement awards By SHAUN FLYNN Mountain Brook Elementary Graduation and Honors Day in May marked a rite of passage for the sixth graders who are moving on to junior high school. Laughter and tears were shared by all as 78 graduates said good bye to Mountain Brook Elementary. The following students were honored with the Class of 2015 Achievement Award: }} Physical Fitness: Sarah Petznick and Marshall McCraney }} Technology: Stuart Jinnette }} Language Arts Reading: Lilly LeJeune }} Mathematics: Ann Carlton Keller }} Leader in Me Character Award: Ellie Hamilton

}} Theresa K. Meyer for Outstanding Citizenship: Ella Frances Mandell and John Curtis Gray }} Language Arts Writing: Maggie Doyle }} Social Studies: Luke Close }} Science: Belle Drummond Also recognized were students who received Leader in Me character awards throughout the year: Grant Blackwell, Wheeler Bowron, Paloma Caine, DeWitt Colvin, Charles Crommelin, Lily Davis, Payton Flynn, Cami Fowler, John Curtis Gray, Caroline Herron, Ella Kampakis, Annie LaRussa, Absher Lawson, Lilly LeJeune, Ella Frances Mandell, Charles Law Schilleci, Mary Carolyn Sink, Ellie Thomas and Calvin Wilbanks.

Award winners Sarah Petznick, Marshall McCraney, Stuart Jinnette, Lilly LeJeune, Ann Carlton Keller, Ellie Hamilton, Ella Frances Mandell and John Curtis Gray.

Saying goodbye to long time MBJH teachers By DENA BERTE Six familiar faces will no longer be at Mountain Brook Junior High when school returns this month. These longtime educators retired at the end of May. The combination of their years spent at the school totals more than 150. These teachers have made an impact in many areas including academics, athletics and overall community with both students and parents alike. Jennifer Bartlett truly can call herself a Spartan. She attended MBJH as a student and then taught both at MBHS for five years and at MBJH for 32 years. As a teacher, her subjects included electives, home economics,

interior design, computer science and math. She was also a sponsor for cheerleading along the way. She remembers during a phase of construction being placed in the old gym with about 20 of her fellow teachers for their classroom time. Bartlett was most influenced by Dr. George Ann Parker, a teacher at MBJH when she was a student. Madame Parker, as she was known, became a mentor for Bartlett years later when she began her own career teaching. “Her wisdom, insight, guidance and love of teaching continue to be valued,” Bartlett said. The teachers that were a part of her time at MBJH are a very dedicated

group and she is appreciative of the time they spent together, she said. Marjory Cooper taught special education at MBJH for 24 years. When asked about a special memory, she says that “each special memory involves a struggling student who finally realized that he or she could be successful. Watching a student make this discovery is uplifting.” Her family has been an inspiration to her, especially her mother and grandmother who were also teachers. She is looking forward to spending more time with her family, including sailing with her husband. Donna Gardner has been a part of MBJH for 24 years. She has been at all grade levels during that time, but

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spent the last 15 teaching seventh grade. She recalled a time a few years ago when some teachers decided to do a “cocoa and cram” session before exams on a cold Sunday afternoon. Many students and teachers came to the school, and they split up all over the library and top floor of the building. Parents brought hot chocolate and treats. Gardner said she is looking forward to teaching at Samford University and continuing her connection with Mountain Brook. She says that “teaching is a gift and it should not be taken lightly. Always learn about your students. We never know what might be going on in their lives.” Coach Greg Morrow covered the

Spartan athletic realm for 37 years including physical education, football and basketball. He also served as assistant athletic director. The students and athletes over the years have given him many special memories along with his fellow coaches and teachers. When asked about who influenced him most as a coach and teacher, he mentioned his mother and former high school coaches. There are many students and athletes who would also say that Coach Morrow has both inspired and influenced them over the years. Upon retirement, Morrow is looking forward to spending time with his new grandson and awaiting the arrival of his granddaughter this summer.

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • B11

Sports

AHSAA: Home-schoolers may be able to play by fall 2016 By DAVID KNOX The proposed Tim Tebow Act did not make it out of the Alabama state legislature this session, but home-schooled students will likely get a chance to play sports for the public school for which they are they are zoned. Steve Savarese, the executive director of the Alabama High School Athletic Association, said the association will continue to meet with respective committees to develop policies applicable concerning home-schooled students gaining athletic eligibility at member schools. “Just like with virtual schools or students in dual-enrollment programs at local colleges, now, in accordance with our rules, we will be adding rules to allow home-school students to play,” Savarese said. The details of the new rules will be crafted during the coming months and will likely be approved in April 2016, allowing home-schoolers to begin play in the fall of 2016. The bill, technically called House Bill 236, is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow from the University of Florida, who was home-schooled and played at Nease High School, near Jacksonville, Fla. Had it passed, it would force the AHSAA to allow home-schooled students and others who attend private schools to be allowed to try out for the school’s teams for which those students are zoned. For example, a home-schooled student who lives in the Mountain Brook City Schools district would be allowed to try out – making the team is not guaranteed – for a sports team even though he or she

The Tim Tebow Act could allow homeschooled students to play sports at public schools.

does not attend the school. Rep. Mike Ball introduced the bill into the legislature, but now that the AHSAA is taking it up, he will not be pursuing it. “My objective was not to pass a bill,” Ball said as the legislature wrapped up its regular session. “My objective is to open the door to allow these children to participate. And if they’re willing to do it and got a definite timetable to do it, then I always

prefer to do it without legislation.” Savarese was reluctant to speak to the details at this stage of the process. “It’s too early to discuss the home schools as it will affect participation until policy has been established. There is no policy right now. For me to be speculative would be dangerous,” Savarese said. The AHSAA and many member schools have opposed the Tebow law because they said the

AHSAA, not the state legislature, should make the rules. They are concerned about administration of the rule and how it affects classification, since those students would not count toward population counts, and how home-schooled students could be held to the same academic standards and team rules. Ball said that he understood from studying the issues and talking to coaches and administrators that the concern was not so much about allowing home-schoolers to participate. “There was a lot of concern that maybe some coaches might find a way to take advantage of this to ‘game’ the system. The high school athletic association I think can find ways to govern that,” Ball said. This move toward allowing home-schoolers to play for public schools has been a growing trend. According to the website TimTebowBill.com, a site devoted to promoting equal access for Alabama home-schoolers, 31 schools in the nation currently have some sort of provision that allows it. Most of the rules were forced by state legislative action – 26 in fact. In other cases, the state association went ahead and authorized it. Some states, such as Ohio, require “partial enrollment.” Besides Alabama, 11 other states have legislation pending or have their athletic association studying it. Among those states are Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma. Savarese said he’s been expecting this sooner or later, and the AHSAA has been talking to other state athletic associations to prepare. It’s unclear how many students would take advantage of the new rule. Based on other states’ figures and on the number of home-schooled

Village Living

B12 • August 2015 FOOTBALL

CONTINUED from page B1 Brook. The Spartans finished 3-7 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009. How close was the difference between making the postseason and sitting at home? Four of the Spartans losses were by three points or less. Donald, who broke a leg against Thompson in the third game of the year, certainly could have made a difference. “Like I said, I felt like we continued to play well on defense,” Yeager said. “But, with Joe out there, we were pretty darn dominant to be honest with you. Joe makes plays from sideline to sideline. He’s a player.” Yeager isn’t the lone coach on the Mountain Brook campus who knows Donald is a player. Donald is also a varsity letterman on the Spartans’ basketball and baseball teams. Yeager said his approach doesn’t change with the seasons. “He’s an every day, every play guy, whatever he’s doing,” Yeager said. “He gives you all he’s got. The guy never stops, he goes from football to basketball to baseball and back to football. He understands what working is every day, all year round. He’s a special athlete.” Donald worked his way on the field as a sophomore, but he was playing behind an experienced corps of linebackers, including standout Buddy Pell. Yeager said he still made an impact. Last season, the Spartans’ plans on building their linebacker corps around Donald ended too early. This year, Yeager said the plan is clear. “When you run a three-man front like we do, the middle better be a strength,” Yeager said. If so, then the Spartans are in good shape. Donald, who is drawing

Spartans’ linemen protect quarterback Connor Adair as he drops back to make a pass. Photos courtesy of Image Arts.

interest from several colleges, is just part of a strong group of starters in the middle of the defense. Senior McKinnon Cox is a 6-foot, 255-pound returning starter at nose tackle, and junior Zachary Carroll is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound playmaker at safety. It also helps that junior Will Wetzler will line up at the other inside linebacker spot after taking over as a sophomore for Donald following the standout linebacker’s injury last season. “We are definitely strong in those three positions,” Yeager said. Mountain Brook certainly needs that in a region filled with pitfall after pitfall. The Spartans play in perhaps the state’s toughest region with threetime state champion Hoover leading the way.

“It does not allow you a lot of margin for error,” Yeager said. “It’s not a very forgiving region. If you sit there [and say,] ‘Well we’re just not ready to play this week.’ Well, you can just about chalk it up that you’re going to lose. It is an unbelievably demanding region.” With that being said, though, Yeager wouldn’t want it any other way for his program. He relishes the opportunity to play in the difficult region. “I love the region that we’re in because it demands so much out of you,” Yeager said. “If you look at it from a big picture thing, that’s what you want. You want to be stretched. You want to grow and learn and do all those things.”

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VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • B13

Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

Eight truths middle schoolers should know It’s rare to hear anyone say they loved middle school. Even people with positive memories never tout it as the best years of their life. Simply put, it’s an awkward season. It’s a time of constant changes, social shake-ups and swinging emotions. If I’ve learned anything from my work with adolescent girls, it’s how hungry this age group is for comfort and reassurance. So, middle school kids, let me assure you that life picks up. There’s a bigger, more promising world beyond your current of passage. In the meantime, I have a few truths to center you. I hope they bring you peace and a little friendly guidance. Truth #8: Today’s most awkward moments will be tomorrow’s funniest memories. Keep a sense of humor. Those braces on your teeth that collect food? That acne on your face that miracle creams can’t cure? That giddy rush you get when your crush walks by and you can’t think straight? One day these things will be really funny! They’ll be the memories you rehash over and over with your siblings and oldest friends. Eventually you’ll have a dazzling smile, clear skin and someone to love. Your current problems will have closure. So stay mindful of the big picture, and remember that even your worst experiences will pass. Truth #7: You don’t want to peak in middle school (or high school or college, for that matter). The worst goal you can have is popularity.

What often makes adolescents popular – running with the fast crowd, dominating peers, living a superficial lifestyle – eventually leads to problems. A successful person gets better with time. You go from being version 1.0 of yourself to version 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and so on. But when you chase popularity, you peak early. You stop growing because you’re stuck in instant gratification mode. Seek to peak later in life. Make good choices that set you up for a bright future. If you’re not a superstar now, that’s okay. This simply means there are better things ahead. Truth #6: Technology makes it easier than ever to ruin relationships and reputations. We live in an age where people post everything online – feelings, emotions and pictures. Technology used wisely is great, but too often, it’s used impulsively. Our fingers jump ahead of our brains, and within seconds, we can trigger pain and misunderstandings. So please, think twice before texting, emailing or posting on social media. Cool off before giving someone a piece of your mind, reacting out of jealousy or anger, embarrassing someone or sending an inappropriate photo. Use the Internet for good, not as a dumping ground. Truth #5: Surrounding yourself with good company is imperative. Yes, you’re called to love everyone, but not everyone deserves a place in your innermost circle. Some people you love up close and

personal; others you love at arm’s length because inviting them into your life invites disaster. Sooner or later, a bad inﬂuence will rub off. You’ll either make choices against your better judgment or wind up in a bad predicament. Your closest friends should lift you up. They should have goals, values, and a genuine desire to see you reach your full potential. Truth #4: It’s okay if you don’t have your life planned out. You probably know kids with immense talent and drive. They’ve trained for years and know exactly what they want in life. Deep down, you may fear you’re getting left behind. Why do they have their act together, and you don’t? But even the best plans will face curveballs. Even driven kids will wind up on different paths than they originally envisioned. So if your future isn’t mapped out by ninth grade, take heart! You’re young and have plenty of time to explore your interests. Just set goals for yourself, use your gifts and head in a good direction. Set a positive trajectory so that when you do discover your “thing” you’re ready to soar. Truth #3: Applause can be misleading. Even a huge mistake can get you cheered on wildly. Through social media, popularity is quantiﬁable. You can gauge your performance by how many “likes,” comments and shares you get. But remember, numbers alone can be misleading. To get the full picture, you must measure

numbers against the truth. After all, Jesus Christ had 12 followers. Adolf Hitler had millions. These figures speak for themselves. Live for the quiet peace inside you. What makes you feel good about yourself? What helps you rest easy at night? You know the truth by how you feel deep down. And when you seek your applause from within, you don’t need the applause of public approval. Truth #2: There’s a difference between helpful advice and hurtful criticism. Be careful who you listen to. Some people want you to succeed. Others don’t. Develop a strong filter for whose words you take to heart – and whose words you ignore. Truth #1: You’re awesome. Truly, you are. And all these crazy changes are leading to something amazing. In the grand scheme of life middle school is just a blip, so keep it in check. Have fun, dream big and make good choices. One day you’ll look back and laugh at the absurdities, and if you’re lucky, you’ll enjoy some humor in it now. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four girls, columnist, and blogger for The Huffington Post. Her first book, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, is available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. Join her Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer,” visit her blog at karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@karikampakis.com.

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Village Living

B14 • August 2015

Calendar Emmet O’Neal Library Events 50 Oak Street eolib.org, 879-0459

Adults Wednesdays: Brown Bag Lunch Series. 12:30 p.m. Bring sack lunch. everages and dessert provided. Aug. 3: Ticket Sales for Doris Kearns Goodwin Author Event Go On Sale. Event scheduled for Sept. 12.

Aug. 4: Adult Summer Reading Finale. 6:30 p.m. Bad Art Night.

Aug. 13: Library closed until 1 p.m. For staff training.

Aug. 10: Great Books Book Group. 6:30 p.m. Will discuss Babylon Revisited by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Aug. 18: Documentaries After Dark. 6:30 p.m. Will watch a film about sailing.

Aug. 11: The Bookies Book Group. 10 a.m. Will discuss Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.

Aug. 25: Genre Reading Group. 6:30 p.m. Will discuss books adapted to films.

Teens Aug. 3: TAB. 5-6 p.m. The monthly meeting of the teen advisory board.

Kids Aug. 21: Movie on the Lawn. 8 p.m.

Community Events Aug. 5: Lunch and Learn: What’s Bugging You? 11:30 a.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The ACES Diagnostic Plant Lab helps identify problems and give cures. Visit bbgardens.org. Aug. 14: Southern Writers. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Levite Jewish Community Center. Instructor Willian Gantt will discuss Southern literary beginnings and some of its most celebrated writers. Call 510-9022. Aug. 15: BBQ at the Zoo. 3-7 p.m. Birmingham Zoo. Pork, chicken, rib, brisket dishes and live musical performances will help support Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School’s efforts to provide education to underprivileged students. Visit hfcristorey.org. Aug. 15: Crestline Tent Sale. All day. Crestline Village. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com.

Aug. 15: Boiling N’ Bragging. 6-9 p.m. Otey’s Tavern. Low country boil, entertainment, kids activities, corn hole tournament, $1 drink specials and more. Visit boilingnbragging.org. Aug. 16: Pancakes and Pajamas. 8-10 a.m. Levite Jewish Community Center. Pancake breakfast provided by the Cohn ECLC. Wear pajamas. Aug. 12: Mountain Brook City Schools First Day of School. Visit mtnbrook.k12.al.us. Aug. 19: Lunch and Learn: Curb Appeal. 11:30 a.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Intentionally add year round color, interest and charm to your landscape. Visit bbgardens.org. Aug. 28: MBHS Varsity Football vs. Huntsville. 7 p.m. Mountain Brook High School. Visit mtnbrook.k12.al.us.

Boiling N’ Bragging will kick of tailgating season at Otey’s Tavern on Aug. 15. Photo courtesy of Children’s of Alabama.

VillageLivingOnline.com

August 2015 • B15

Calendar Area Events July 31-Aug. 2: Secret Stages. Friday 6-11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday noon-6 p.m. A walking music festival in downtown Birmingham. $25 weekend passes. Visit secretstages.net.

homewoodpubliclibrary.org.

Aug. 1-8: Shrek the Musical. 7:309:30 p.m. Virginia Samford Theatre. The VST STARS present Shrek the Musical. Visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org.

Aug. 14: Art on the Rocks. 7-11 p.m. Birmingham Museum of Art. $15 for members, $25 for non-members. Visit artsbma.org.

Aug. 2: Andy Grammer and American Authors with AJR. 7:30 p.m. Iron City, 513 22nd St. South. $22-$25. Visit ironcitybham.com. Aug. 6: Birmingham Art Crawl. 5-9 p.m. Downtown Birmingham, 113 22nd St. North. Free. A walking art gallery with artists, performers, food and fun. Visit birminghamartcrawl.com. Aug. 8: Good Old War. 9 p.m. Saturn Birmingham, 200 41st St. South. $15 in advance, $17 day of show. Visit saturnbirmingham.com. Aug. 9: Auntie Mame. 2 p.m. Alabama Theatre. $8. Part of Alabama Theatre’s Summer Film Series. Visit alabamatheatre.com. Aug. 9: Christina Perri. 7 p.m. Iron City, 513 22nd St. South. Visit ironcitybham.com. Aug. 10: My Morning Jacket. 8 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North. $43. Visit mymorningjacket.com. Aug. 13: Pre-Code Film Festival. 6:308 p.m. Homewood Public Library. Pre-code film made in 1933 starring Barbara Stanwyck. Visit

Aug. 14: Grease. 7 p.m. Alabama Theatre. $8. Part of Alabama Theatre’s Summer Film Series. Visit alabamatheatre.com.

Aug. 16: The Sound of Music. 2 p.m. Alabama Theatre. $8. Part of Alabama Theatre’s Summer Film Series. Visit alabamatheatre.com. Aug. 19: Iron Cinema Presents Garden State. 7 p.m. Iron City, 513 22nd St. South. Free. Visit ironcitybham.com. Aug. 22: Rock ‘n’ Run. 8 a.m. Homewood Central Park. The ‘70s-themed run will benefit IMPACT Family Counseling. Visit impactal.org. Aug. 22: Baby Steps Memorial 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. 8 a.m. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. Run allows grieving families and their friends to come together to remember lost loved ones. Visit ameliacenter.org. Aug. 23: Southern Bridal Show. Noon-5 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North. Meet face-to-face with wedding professionals and find everything you need to create the wedding of your dreams. $15 at the door. Visit eliteevents.com. Aug. 28-30: Sidewalk Film Festival. Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m. Over 200 movies, parties, workshops, music, food and more. Visit sidewalkfest.com.

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