Village Living neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook
Volume 5 | Issue 7 | October 2014
It takes a community New organization forms to point youth in the right direction
Rabbi Jonathan Miller and parents Leigh Ann Sisson and Renee Fenn are part of a new community-wide effort to help Mountain Brook teenagers with a wide set of issues. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
By MADOLINE MARKHAM
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Leigh Ann Sisson knows that it takes more than schools to point children and teens in the right direction. “When there is a tragedy, people point their fingers at the school and ask what they are going to do with that,” she said. “What we know from the
Pride Survey is that when they are making poor decisions, it’s generally not at school, and parents are the largest deterrent to things like substance abuse for their kids. It’s how we model behavior that’s going to influence our kids, and it’s been time for us as a community to step up and say we want to make strides as a community to put our hands around these kids and support them.”
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Sisson, a mom of four, is one of several veterans of the Mountain Brook Anti-Drug Coalition who have organized a new nonprofit organization, All In Mountain Brook, to address a wider set of issues among youth. The Anti-Drug Coalition had primarily focused on programs around Red Ribbon Week and Hitting Home programs for parents.
Business............ A8 Home Guide...... A17
Community ...... B2 School House ... B13
“Some of that had been good, but it had run its course,” former coalition co-chair Renee Fenn said. “We wanted to focus on broader problems that many of our youth are faced with, like highrisk behavior, violence and mental health.” This past summer the new organization came to
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Fall Home Guide
Leaving a legacy
It’s a perfect time of year for home improvement projects. Find tips and ideas in our special section.
MBHS Athletic Director Terry Cooper is retiring this month. Read more about how he as led sports in Mountain Brook for decades inside.
Special page A17
Sports page B18
General Election Nov. 4th
Village Living
A2 • October 2014
Holiday Open Houses: Thursday November 20th Crestline
Wednesday December 3rd English Village Thursday December 4th Mountain Brook Village Holiday Parade Sunday December 7th Mountain Brook Village Tuesday December 9th Cahaba Village MOUNTAIN BROOK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.welcometomountainbrook.com • 871-3779 facebook.com/mtnbrookchamber
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October 2014 • A3
Village Living
A4 • October 2014
About Us Please Support our Community Partners
Photo of the month
Seventh-graders Cameron Hudson, Abby Murphree and Lily Hulsey compete in their first cross-country meet. Photo courtesy of Kristen Murphree.
Send your submissions for Photo of the Month to jennifer@villagelivingonline.com
Editor’s Note By Jennifer Gray With the start of October, fall is in full swing. Just look at this month’s issue, and you will see all of the fun and exciting events and stories that fill this time of year. If you are like me, every time you went on Facebook in August and September, your newsfeed was full of video after video of friends taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. It was contagious, not just in Mountain Brook but across the nation. But maybe you don’t know someone with ALS. Maybe you took the challenge or contributed money, but you really don’t know who you were helping. In this month’s issue you will meet two amazing Mountain Brook men who are fighting that battle daily. Bryan Bonds and Glenn Love share their story of faith, family and the support of their church,
Brookwood Baptist, in their fight against ALS in our cover story. You most likely have heard that the city of Birmingham has the honor of hosting His Holiness, the Dali Lama. This international celebration sparked an idea in one Mountain Brook High School alum, Carrie Bloomston. She and her mother, Rhonda Greenberg, came up with an idea to have prayer flags fly above the city for his visit. People from all faiths have come together to create these artistic expressions that will decorate the city this month. Carrie was voted Most Artistic in my MBHS class, and it is fun to see how art and creativity have remained such a huge part of her life through the years. Speaking of MBHS, Terry Cooper has served as athletic director there for 23 years. He leaves quite a legacy for the
community and the students and families he has known. Hear his story and find out his plans for the future in this month’s issue as we honor him and his long career at Mountain Brook High School. Of course, October also means Halloween. The holiday has come a long way from what I remember growing up in Mountain Brook. It’s no longer grabbing a hot dog and going trick or treating on just the day of Halloween. Now we have church festivals full of games and trick or treating fun, neighborhood gatherings and the Mystics of Mountain Brook Parade. Read all about how this recent but hugely popular Mountain Brook tradition got its start and find out where and when to find fall festivals in the pages to come.
Village Living Publisher: Creative Director: Editor: Managing Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writers: Editorial Assistant: Graphic Designer: Advertising Manager: Sales and Distribution:
Contributing Photographer: Contributing Writer: Published by:
Dan Starnes Keith McCoy Jennifer Gray Madoline Markham David Knox Katie Turpen Jessa Pease Sydney Cromwell Madison Miller Emily VanderMey Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Michelle Salem Haynes Morgan Robinson Nathan Pearman Karim Shamsi-Basha Kari Kampakis Village Living LLC
School House Contributors: Catherine Gasque & Catherine Bodnar - Cherokee Bend, Lisa Stone - Crestline, Kathleen Woodry - Brookwood Forest, Suzanne Milligan - Mountain Brook High School, Hilary Ross- Mountain Brook Elementary, Elizabeth Farrar - Mountain Brook Junior High Contributing Photographer: Image Arts Contact Information: Village Living #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 Dan@VillageLivingOnline.com
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A Little Something (A6) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A13) Alabama Outdoors (B5) Alabama Power (B6) Amy Smith (A13) Architectural Hardware Supply (A23) Backyard Adventures (B11) Bates, Roberts, Fowlkes & Jackson Insurance (A5) Batts’ Chimney Services (A20) Bedzzz Express (B24) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (A11) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (B12) Birmingham Heart Clinic (B13) Brandino Brass (A19) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (B16) Brookmont Realty Group LLC (A10) Canterbury Gardens (A12) Case Remodeling (B23) Christopher Glenn (A21) Cowboy’s (B5) Dish’n It Out (B14) Ecoview (A21) Etc. (B10) Everly’s Boutique (B4) Exvoto Vintage (A12) Fred Smith Group (A11) Granite Transformations (A20) Hanna’s Garden Shop (A18) Hollywood Pools (A18) Home Care Associates (A8) Homewood Toy & Hobby (A18) Hufham Orthodontics (A14) Indian Springs School (A18) Issis & Sons / O Advertising (A22) Iz Cafe (B7) John-William Jeweller (A6) Kevin J. Alexander D.M.D., P.C. (A19) King’s House Oriental Rugs (B11) Kirkwood by the River (A7) Korduroy Krocodile (B16) Lane Parke - Evson Inc. (B15) Little Flower Day Spa (A9) Little Hardware, Inc (A20) Magnolia Creek Treatment Center (B17) Mike Hale for Sheriff (A1) Morningside at Riverchase (B9) Mountain Brook Baptist Church (B7) Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce (A2) Nerium International (A17) On Time Service (B12) Otey’s (A15) RealtySouth (A24) Renasant Bank (A3) Sally Bergquist with RealtySouth (A15) Sew Sheri Designs (A23) Simply Ponds (A13) Swoop (B16) Taco Mama (B3) The Altamont School (A7) The Fitness Center (A16) The Fitness Center (B23) The Highlands School (A8) The Maids (A19) The Scribbler (B3) The White Room Bridal Salon (B2) TherapySouth Crestline (B8) UAB Callahan Eye Hospital (A2) Uptown Nail Spa (B2) Village Dermatology (A5) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A14) Vitalogy Wellness Center (B21) Weigh To Wellness (B1)
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October 2014 • A5
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Village Living
A6 • October 2014
City CRIME REPORT Aug. 21-28 Burglary / Residential On Aug. 26, a burglary occurred in the 3800 block of South Cove Drive. Unknown suspect(s) forced entry to a door of the residence. Jewelry was stolen from the residence. Theft of Property Between July 18 and Aug. 22, a theft occurred in the 2900 block of Virginia Road. Unknown suspect(s) stole a backpack blower from a truck parked at the residence. Aug. 29-Sept. 4 Theft of Property A theft occurred in the 3500 block of Rockhill Road between Aug. 30-Sept. 1. Unknown suspect(s) stole four hammocks from the yard of the residence. Foreign Felony Arrest / Assist Other Agency On Sept. 2 at approximately 7:15 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle commit several traffic violations near Stone River Road in Cherokee Bend. After conducting a traffic stop of the suspect vehicle, the officer recognized the vehicle from a robbery earlier in the evening in Irondale. The officer along with other MBPD personnel took two suspects into custody and released them to Irondale Police.
Sept. 5-11 Burglary / Residential A burglary occurred on Sept. 10 in the 5000 block of Old Leeds Road. Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into a door of the residence and stole a television.
Palmer to speak at Chamber luncheon
City council updates At its September meetings, the Mountain Brook City Council: }} Approved the master development plan for the 18-lot Park at Overton development off Overton Road adjacent to Knesseth Israel Congregation. The amendment allows for a patio cover on Lot 5, 3762 Village Lane, to be 12 feet from the rear property line in lieu of the required 15 feet.
Theft of Property A theft occurred in the 3200 block of East Briarcliff Road between Sept. 4-5. Unknown suspect(s) entered a garage and stole a leaf blower.
}} Set a public hearing to consider an ordinance amending the sign ordinance in Chapter 121 of the City Code for Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
Sex Offender Investigation / Violation of Restrictions On July 28, an offense was reported related to a convicted sex offender who was offering his services as a photographer to a resident of Mountain Brook. The suspect agreed to photograph the children of the resident and scheduled a session. Convicted sex offenders are prohibited from offering services such as the photography of children. Mountain Brook Police Department Detectives conducted an investigation and identified the suspect as Christopher Scott Shrove, 35, of Center Point. A warrant was obtained on Shrove for violation of Alabama Code 15-20A-013 Alabama Sex Offender-Employment Restrictions. Bond was set at $15,000. Shrove was convicted in 2006 for Electronic Solicitation of a Child, a 14-year-old female.
}} Approved an agreement between the city and Ilene and Sanford Axelroth. The agreement gives the Axelroths the ability to construct and maintain a privacy wall on their property at 3525 Mill Springs Road.
}} Proclaimed Sept. 17-23 Constitution Week to commemorate the signing of the Constitution of the United States.
Gary Palmer
District 6 Congressional candidate Gary Palmer will address the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce this month. For the past 24 years, Palmer led the Alabama Policy Institute, a public policy think tank ranked as Alabama’s most influential conservative group. Prior to that he worked for small businesses and two major engineering companies. Palmer was elected as the Republican candidate this summer, winning over Rep. Paul DeMarco in the primary runoff. He will run against Democratic candidate Mark Lester on Nov. 4. The luncheon will be held Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. For ticket information, visit welcometomountainbrook.com.
}} Approved a one-time bonus for RSA and CIGNA retirees. This bonus is equal to about $2 a month for every month of service. The bonuses will be paid in October. This decision was made against the opinion of the finance committee. }} Approved the city’s 2015 property and liability insurance policies with One Beacon Insurance. There were no changes in the deductibles from the expiring policy. This new policy went into effect Sept. 1. }} Approved two service agreements between Mountain Brook and New World Systems, a public sector software company providing solutions for public safety and public administration. }} Approved a resolution establishing the employees’ and retirees’ monthly premiums for medical insurance effective in October. }} Approved a resolution authorizing the sale of surplus computer equipment for public Internet auction.
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • A7
City recognizes Gynecologic Cancer Awareness
CanSurvive GYN Cancer Support Group members were presented with the proclamation by the Mayor Terry Oden in September.
By JESSA PEASE The City of Mountain Brook turned teal on Sept. 2. Mayor Lawrence T. Oden proclaimed September Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month at the city council meeting. This proclamation was made possible by A State of Teal awareness campaign for gynecologic cancers launched in collaboration by CanSurvive GYN Cancer Support Group, the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation and the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Like pink represents breast cancer awareness,
teal now represents gynecologic cancer. The proclamation encouraged all residents to reflect on the memory of those lost to gynecologic cancer, the bravery of those currently battling it, and the need for increased awareness, screening and research so that all women might be spared from this diagnosis. Gynecologic cancer is the fourth largest cancer killer of women in the United States, and about 80,000 women will be diagnosed this year. Alabama is one of two states with the highest rates of death from ovarian and cervical cancer.
A Ministry of Independent Presbyterian Church Birmingham, Al
City staff takes ALS Ice Bucket Challenge By MADOLINE MARKHAM Five members of Mountain Brook city government joined the ranks of people taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Aug. 21. Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce director Suzan Doidge challenged the city. Parks and Recreation Superintendent Shanda Williams, City Manager Sam Gaston, City Planner Dana Hazen, Police Chief Ted Cook and Fire Chief Robert Ezekiel stood in front of the fire station in the Municipal Complex as a fire truck sprayed cold water. Each of the five city officials is making a donation to ALS in the name of the city, and they have challenged the City of Vestavia Hills, Emmet O’Neal Library and the Leadership Mountain Brook
Parks and Recreation Superintendent Shanda Williams, City Manager Sam Gaston, City Planner Dana Hazen, Police Chief Ted Cook and Fire Chief Robert Ezekiel take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Photo by Madoline Markham.
class to take it next. The Ice Bucket Challenge is a social media campaign that asks people to challenge others to pour
a bucket of ice on themselves and make a donation to the ALS Association.
MSNBC to film Live Local Saturday Mountain Brook businesses will soon be featured on an MSNBC show about small business and entrepreneurship. On Saturday, Oct. 18, MBNBC’s crew from Your Business will film Live Local Saturday events in the villages. MSNBC producer David Foster has been working with Suzan Doidge and Hannon Davidson at the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce to set up the filming date. “We are excited to have him in our community and show him how we do buy local the best,” Doidge said. “We hope want to make sure people come out and shop that day.” “We are interested in finding out what is working [for the program] and how people are responding to it,” Foster said. “What struck a cord with us is that
the community is making a concerted effort to bring people to the area.” Foster said the show focuses on small business coverage leading up to Small Business Saturday, which is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The producers hope to give other communities ideas about how to increase their small business traffic through segments on the subject. Mountain Brook in particular interested them for the network’s shop local coverage. “It isn’t a traditional main street, so shopping is around villages,” Foster said. “They are more spread out, so people have to make an effort to have programming to come to those specific villages.” Your Business airs Sundays at 6:30 a.m. Foster said the episode featuring Mountain Brook will air sometime in November.
Village Living
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OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 9:00 A.M. RSVP: jmcdonald@highlandsschool.org
Overton Rd
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Now Open TrainSmarter is now open in Crestline Park at 1103 Dunston Ave. The fitness studio offers private, semi-private and group sessions and is a TRX-certified facility. 222-8464.
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Coming Soon La Catrina, a Mexican restaurant, is opening in the former Salvatore’s location in English Village 2031 Cahaba Road. The restaurant also has locations in Homewood, Vestavia and Trussville. lacatrinarestaurant.com.
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News and Accomplishments The Fred Smith Group recently released a new online magazine with real estate listings and information about areas where they are located. 879-6330. soldbyfred.com.
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Hirings and Promotions RealtySouth has hired Connie Alexander and Kyle McReynolds as Realtors for its Crestline office, 105 Euclid Ave., and Ry Ogilvie for its Cahaba office, 2807 Cahaba Road. 879-6330 Crestline, 870-5420 Cahaba. realtysouth.com.
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Anniversaries Olexa’s, 2838 Culver Road, celebrated its 10th anniversary in August. 871-2060. olexas.com.
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Monkee’s of Mountain Brook, 2006 Cahaba Road in English Village, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. 783-1240. monkeesofmountainbrook.com.
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Business news
to share? Now Open Coming Soon
Relocation Expansion Anniversary
If you are in a brick and mortar business in Mountain Brook and want to share your event with the community, let us know.
Village Living iving Email dan@villagelivingonline.com
October 2014 • A9
Village Living
A10 • October 2014
Business Spotlight
Read past Business Spotlights at villagelivingonline.com
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By OLIVIA BURTON Have you ever wondered what “sea breeze” or “rock & roll” tastes like? Sugar in Crestline Village unveils the mystery with its more than 70 options of snow cone flavors. There are classics such as strawberry or lime, or surprises of pink champagne or toasted coconut. The adventurous might try “dinosaur” or “tsunami.” Buckets of candy line Sugar’s walls like library books on a shelf. The bright reds, blues, greens and yellows of butterfly gummies and gumballs will catch your eye as you fill your bag with a rainbow of jellybeans. Sugar is every kid’s dream. When Sarah Franklin Johnson opened the business with friend and partner Babs Anderson about four years ago, she envisioned a place where both kids and adults could feel at home and happy. “There’s never a sad or bad day at a candy shop,” she said. Johnson taught special education for more than seven years and then worked in sales before opening Sugar, but she had always been interested in owning a candy store. She found inspiration in Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City as well as in the Sugar Shak at Rosemary Beach, Fla. Today, Johnson enjoys getting to know the children and adults who frequent Sugar. On any given school day, students pack into
Store owner Sarah Franklin Johnson wants Sugar to be a place where both kids and adults can feel at home and happy. Photo by Olivia Burton.
the local candy store for shaved ice, sour belts, “all-day” pops and chocolates. “I’ve watched them grow up already just over the past four years,” she said. Sugar boasts a diverse inventory of candies and chocolates that changes with the seasons. Unsure what to buy when she first opened the
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shop, Johnson simply started by purchasing the candy she liked. “Now that I’m years into it, I’ve kind of figured out what sells and what kids like,” she said. Johnson enjoys introducing new items to see customers’ responses. She has noticed that while the kids prefer sour gummies such as the popular
69 Church Street Crestline Village 637-5042 Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
sour belts, adults tend to prefer items that are a little less colorful and sugary. “I have repeat adult customers who come for dark chocolate items, and that’s all they buy,” said Johnson, who has learned to keep specific items in stock for certain customers. Like the kids, Johnson herself prefers gummies, but she loves the chocolate items Sugar sells as well. Sugar is a popular birthday party destination for younger kids throughout the year. Partygoers eat shaved ice, decorate a cupcake with candy and do an activity such as a candy necklace or a holiday craft. The candy store also offers macaroons and candy tables for weddings and other events. Sugar’s giant, three-foot party balloons are popular for gifts and parties. It recently began hosting movie nights where parents can sign their kids up for candy and a movie and then enjoy a quiet dinner in Crestline Village. “I feel like movie nights will be a big thing in the fall,” Johnson said. Some of Sugar’s most popular gift items include camper packages, Easter baskets, Valentine’s Day buckets, stocking stuffers and birthday tackle boxes, which have compartments filled with different candies. Its Comfort Colors T-shirts and spirit jerseys were hit items this summer as well. Johnson said that when it comes to candy, crafts and gifts, “the sky’s the limit.”
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • A11
Keeping history alive Cahaba Park Church finds home at Carraway-Davie House By MADISON MILLER The Carraway-Davie House is built with pieces of Birmingham’s history. The brick from the walls of the Birmingham Paper Company and columns from Talladega’s Presbyterian Female Collegiate Institute complete its exterior. On the inside, the house is fitted with historical fixtures such as a mirror from the original Tutwiler Hotel, marble and iron from the Birmingham Terminal train station, and a chandelier from the Temple Theatre. Originally built in 1972 for local surgeon Dr. Clayton Davie, the house on Old Overton Road was donated to Carraway Methodist Medical Center and has since been used as a place for community meetings and celebrations. In June, Cahaba Park Church purchased the property from Corretti Inc., beginning a new chapter for the house. Senior Pastor Murray Lee wants to keep the doors open as a place to commune and celebrate. “The last thing that we want is to say, ‘Well, the church has bought the Carraway-Davie House, and that means the gates are closed,’” Lee said. “We want to be a place that serves the community.” A group of families came together in 2007 to form Cahaba Park Church as a branch of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Homewood. Since its inception, services have been held at Mountain Brook High School. After seven years, the church has grown to 550 members and has outgrown the space. “We’ve got over 20 zip codes… it’s been neat to see folks coming from different parts of the city,” Lee said. “Instead of a community church, you
have a much broader sense of what’s going on.” When Lee and the church realized the space potential of the Carraway-Davie House, they knew that it was the place for them. They looked at other locations during their search over the years, but nothing else compared, Lee said. In order to raise funds to purchase the building, the church launched a capital campaign in January 2013 titled “For Every Generation.” The campaign focused on the importance of having a place to call home. “On a day-in-day-out basis, we have a church home,” church member Katie Caldwell said. “We want to plant [other] churches not just locally, but internationally.… That will take shape now that we have a central location.” In total, the purchase of the building cost $4.65 million, and renovations will cost another $500,000 to $800,000. Renovations have begun and church offices have moved to the lowest level of the house, but they do not expect to hold services at the site until mid-2015. A conference center located behind the property will serve as Cahaba Park’s worship center. In terms of renovations, the church plans to connect the house with the conference center to create one building. The rooms in the original house will be used as classrooms and meeting spaces. All the space is, of course, located in the area the church has called home since its start. “Mountain Brook has been so wonderful to work with over the years,” Lee said. “But we felt like having a church home that we could call our own, that we could use to serve the community, would be important.” For more information on Cahaba Park Church and the Carraway-Davie House, visit cahabapark.org.
Senior Pastor Murray Lee stands by the front door of Cahaba Park Church’s new building, the Carraway-Davie House. Photo by Madison Miller.
Village Living
A12 • October 2014
A hook and ladder for Cam Playground area at Overton Park marks memories of its namesake By MADOLINE MARKHAM Cam Cole loved firetrucks. According to his dad, Cam was “virtually obsessed with the fire station by [Overton Park],” where he had his first three birthday parties and visited weekly. After November of last year, though, visiting Overton Park brought out deep sorrow in Cam’s dad, Cameron Cole. Cam died in his sleep unexpectedly on Nov. 11, just a couple of months after his third birthday. Today, however, the park evokes a different set of feelings for those who knew Cam, ones of joy and remembrance. A set of firetruckthemed playground equipment was built last month at the park in Cam’s
memory. “When you lose a loved one, especially a young one, you so desperately want them to be remembered, and something like this is positive and so fitting,” Cole said. A group of the Coles’ friends initiated and raised all the funds for the project, working with Mountain Brook Parks and Recreation and Playscapes of Alabama on the design. “It’s amazingly kind how so many people have carried a tremendous load and invested a ton of time and money into this project,” Cole said. “For [Cam] to be remembered in such a way that is so positive for the park and matches his personality is really special and redemptive for our family.” Cam’s Corner was dedicated on
Sept. 20 — three days after what would have been Cam’s fourth birthday. The centerpiece of Cam’s Corner is a red firetruck with a steering wheel on the front end, a slide on the back and monkey bars in between. The side reads “Mountain Brook FD” and bears the department’s logo. Next to it, a merry-go-roundlike spinner and a climbing dome have taken the place of the existing seesaw, concrete turtle and zip line extension on the park’s playground. These new pieces are accompanied by a sign that reads: “Cam’s Corner: Celebrating a joyful, playful life at Overton Park, in loving memory of Richard Cameron Cole Jr., Sept. 17, 2010-Nov. 11, 2013.”
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Cam Cole, who passed away last year at age 3, enjoyed spending time at Overton Park and seeing the firetrucks next door. Photo courtesy of the Cole family.
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • A13
Fly high at the zoo By SYDNEY CROMWELL You can see life from a bird’s point of view at the Birmingham Zoo now. The 20-foot-high Jane H. Brock Soaring Safari Zipline, which opened in April, boasts four zip lines, a treehouse and a transition bridge. The zip line is only open on weekends, but CEO Bill Foster said the zoo has seen more than 6,000 “zippers” so far. “The feedback that we get from our guests has been very positive,” Foster said. Foster said the zip line came from the zoo’s desire to create new adventures for its young guests. The zoo worked with Red Mountain Park and its executive director, David Dionne, to create a smaller version of the zip line at the park. Red Mountain staff members are on-site at the zoo to operate the zip line. Anyone who weighs between 45 and 250 pounds can ride the zip line as long as they fit in the harness, and there are even options for people with disabilities. Foster said he and the zoo staff have all taken rides on the zip line, as well. It’s a fun experience, but the zip line has also been a site for team building and for people who want to get over their fear of heights. “It’s more than just a zip line experience,” Foster said. “It’s a personal growth thing for many people.” In the spring, zippers will get to see a whole new view from the trees. The zoo is currently working on a new exhibit, the Barbara Ingalls Shook Black Bear Trail, which will open next to the zip line in March 2015. While the zip line won’t go directly over the black bears’ enclosure, it will be part of the education program. Two of the black bear residents were rescued from euthanasia in their home state of Montana, and Foster said they have a very gripping story to be told. He also noted that black bears are
Soaring Safari Zipline operator Dakota Carter tries out the Birmingham Zoo’s 20-foot-high zip line. The zip line was funded by Jane H. Brock and her family, who have been supporters of the zoo for decades. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
migrating into northern Alabama from Florida, Georgia and the Great Smoky Mountains. Some visitors to the bear trail may one day find themselves face to face with a black bear, and the zoo’s exhibit could be a “voice of education
[and] a voice of reason” in teaching people to coexist with these predators. The zip line will remain open during the zoo’s weekend hours until Oct. 31. It will be closed during the winter with possible holiday openings
and will reopen in March along with the new Black Bear Trail. During the spring and fall, the zip line is only available on weekends, but it will be open daily in the summer. For more information, call the zoo at 879-0409.
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Village Living
A14 • October 2014
A challenge graver Brookwood Baptist members fighting ALS together Bryan Bonds and Glenn Love hold buckets that fellow members of Brookwood Baptist Church have used to complete the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Both men were diagnosed with the disease in late 2013. Photo by Madoline Markham.
By MADOLINE MARKHAM For Bryan Bonds, it started with muscle jumps in his arms, chest and back. He and his family laughed about it at first, but when his left arm became weak, they grew concerned. In the summer of 2013, his friend Glenn Love noticed his left hand had locked up while
gripping the steering wheel on a drive home from Mobile. Lifting weights had brought on twitches in his arms for the past five years, but his hand made him start to think he might have the disease that ended his dad’s life at age 61 — ALS, also know as Lou Gehrig’s disease. After months of rigorous testing, Love, 55, was diagnosed in December, just a month after
Bonds, 49, received similar word from his doctor. The men had both watched their sons grow up in Brookwood Baptist Church and Mountain Brook sports teams and go on to play in college, and Love had passed on the reins of broadcasting MBHS football games on MBTV to Bonds after his youngest son graduated. Now they travel to Hoover together once a month to
a room full of people older than them and in wheelchairs as a part of ALS support group meetings. Statistically, two people in every 100,000 people have ALS, according to the ALS Association, but at Brookwood Baptist each week, there are two in 400. The neurodegenerative disease affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal
VillageLivingOnline.com
than ice water cord, progressively affecting arms, legs and breathing. For everyone diagnosed, it looks different. Some people live for five or more years after diagnosis, but the average life expectancy is two to five years. Love’s dad, Tom, passed away a year after his diagnosis because it affected his breathing first. For both Bonds and Love, symptoms started in their arms, and they hope it affects their legs next, not their breathing. Doctors told Love’s dad the disease was linked to heavy metals in the lab where he worked, but now Love knows that, like about 30 percent of patients, it’s hereditary for him. “Now I am concerned about my sons, but by that time I think they will have a medicine,” Love said. He and his wife, Karen, have three sons, Wilson, Harris and Tyler. Causes for the rest of those affected by ALS are unknown, as is what will stop the disease. There is only one FDA-approved drug on the market, which Bonds takes. It claims to slow the progression of the disease and keep it from affecting breathing. “Everything else is theory,” Bonds said. “One doctor will tell you to go off a cholesterol medicine, and another to get on it.” Both men are following the Deanna Protocol, an experimental nutrition regiment that could slow or stop ALS. Love drinks nine tablespoons of coconut oil a day and credits it as the reason that a few weeks ago his left hand was able to grip a coffee mug handle again. He also works out five days a week at Life Time Fitness, as he has read that greater fitness results in a longer life expectancy for those with ALS. Bonds and Love both said that their faith, family and their church have sustained them since their diagnoses. Bonds speaks highly of his wife, Emily, who works full time and takes charge of all cooking and cleaning as he can’t use his hands for any of those things. They know that they and their son Miller and daughter Anne Marie don’t face the future alone. “We have had so many people [at our church] offer food and grass cutting, but we know there is a time
when we will need it more,” Bonds said. “We feel an outpouring of love. I have had so many people who walk up to me and tell me they are praying for me, and I tell them, ‘I know you are and I feel it.’” For him, there is something greater than use of his hands that he wants to teach his children. “I am trying to have a testament to my children that there’s a better way to handle bad things that happen to you,” Bonds said. “I want them to see courage and faith in the face of adversity.” Bonds’ son, Miller, helped his dad face a bucket of ice-cold water recently as a part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. “I am overwhelmed by the number of people who have done it worldwide,” Bonds said, noting how encouraging it was to see out-of-town friends tag him in their posts. “It means a lot that they are doing it for me.” Love’s wife, Karen, poured water on their son Tyler, and the three people he challenged all completed it. Love also watched videos of the University of Alabama football team, where his son Wilson is a graduate assistant under Nick Saban and son Tyler played as well, and a group of 200 of his coworkers at Hargrove Engineers, where he worked through April 25, complete the challenge. Bonds recalls how former Alabama quarterback Kevin Turner, who has ALS, frequently talks about how they have not found a cure for ALS because of a lack of funding, and now both are hopeful that the $111 million raised as of Sept. 8 from the challenge changes that. “Several researchers have told me that they are close to finding a cure in medicine, and this might send them over the edge,” Love said. A group from Brookwood Baptist has organized a team called Bonds of Love for the Birmingham Walk to Defeat ALS on the morning of Oct. 11 at the Hoover Met. As of early September, more than 40 people had joined the team and raised $3,400, and they are hoping participation and fundraising will grow. For more information or to register or donate, visit alsa.org.
October 2014 • A15
Miller Bonds pours ice water on his dad, Bryan, as a part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Miller, who plays college baseball, moved back to Birmingham from Charleston after Bryan was diagnosed with ALS in November. Photo courtesy of the Bonds family.
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A16 • October 2014 COMMUNITY
CONTINUED from page A1 life along with the help of parent and attorney Jack Young. “It’s a great way for us to broaden our scope, and it’s amazing to watch the enthusiasm of all the people who have committed to be a part of the board, which will enhance what we have started to help students,” Fenn said. Sisson knows that the kids themselves ultimately make decisions, but she wants parents, worship centers, businesses and the community as a whole to model behavior and help support them. All In Mountain Brook introduced itself to the community with a video shown at open houses at the junior high and high school, and elementary schools received copies of it to share as well. Parents also had an opportunity to sign a commitment form to say they are “All In Mountain Brook.” Fenn plans for the group to hold events such as parenting practices workshops and use city officials, physicians and psychologists on the board to provide resources for parents when they need them. They are also considering holding a community event after a football game or involving area restaurants. “We want to be an avenue for parents in the community to be aware of,” Fenn said. “It’s never too early to build a relationship with your children, so that as they get older and start to make decisions on their own, they know the right decision to make when faced with things like drugs and alcohol.” Instead of a one-week focus on Red Ribbon Week, each school will take a yearlong approach to addressing these issues, bringing in speakers and creating other initiatives.
All In Board Members “Studies show you have to talk about these issues with kids every 30 days to make an impact,” Sisson said. Sisson envisions hands-on classes for parents taught by experts about how to handle social media or target signs of depression or an eating disorder. She also hopes to hold community events where teenagers can learn that you can have fun without alcohol and that at community events in the villages where alcohol is served that there is sufficient parent supervision. “Teenagers want someplace to go and be together, and when they go places without supervision, that’s when those things happen,” she said. In addition to parents and school representatives, All In’s new board has members from area businesses, worship centers and city government. Jonathan Miller, rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, said the group being a community effort, not just a school one, is critical to helping Mountain Brook children. “In a community like Mountain Brook where people are generally high achievers, there is a lot of pressure for kids to excel at everything they do, and I am concerned that pressure can hurt a lot of kids and keep them from discovering the world,” Miller said. “I have been involved with addressing drug and alcohol education in the past, but there is more that is going on with our children that are engaging in this community. Sometimes our society turns the other way and doesn’t see that our children are not as happy as they should be at this time of life.” All In Mountain Brook’s board held its first meeting in September and should announce upcoming programs in the coming months.
Dicky Barlow Superintendent, Mountain Brook Schools R. Bruce Barze Jr. Attorney at Law, Balch & Bingham, LLP Ted Cook Chief, Mountain Brook Police Department Alice Churnock Licensed Professional Counselor, Covenant Counseling Center Donald Clayton Principal, Mountain Brook Junior High Suzan Doidge Executive Director, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce William Dow CPA, Warren Averett Elizabeth Dunn Mountain Brook Board of Education Robert Ezekiel Chief, Mountain Brook Fire Department Renee Fenn Mountain Brook Parent/Volunteer Sam Gaston Mountain Brook City Manager Amanda Hood Principal, Mountain Brook High School Laurie King Principal, Crestline Elementary Don Menendez President, White Plume Technologies Jonathan Miller Rabbi, Temple Emanu-El Billy Pritchard Mountain Brook City Council Laura Sink Mountain Brook Parent/Volunteer Leigh Ann Sisson Mountain Brook Parent/Volunteer Dan Starnes Publisher, Village Living Dale Wisely Director of Student Services, Mountain Brook Schools Jack Young Attorney at Law, Ferguson, Frost & Dodson, LLP
Suicide survivor shares experience
Harry Miree speaks at Crestline Field.
By MADISON MILLER Harry Miree is happy to be here. On Sept. 9, Miree addressed a group of residents at the Crestline Elementary field. The Aware meeting was held on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day and also the seventh anniversary of Miree’s own suicide attempt. Miree said his first thoughts of suicide came when he was just 8 years old. Growing up in Mountain Brook, the thought crossed his mind several times, but there were always people or even tasks keeping him from attempting his own suicide, he said. As a child, finishing a video game once prevented him from an attempt. Then, he said seven years ago there happened to be nothing keeping him around. After surviving his attempt, Miree now works as a drummer
in Nashville and is grateful to still be alive. “There are still sad things in my life, but I’m glad I’m here,” Miree said in his speech. Miree spoke on behalf of Aware, which formed in February after the suicide of Miree’s cousin, also a Mountain Brook resident. Miree’s YouTube video, “Journal of a Suicide Survior,” was created shortly after his cousin’s suicide and shares some of Miree’s own thought process when considering suicide. It now has over 7,400 views. Aware’s goal is to open a platform to talk about suicide and the issues surrounding it, including mental health. “If one person can be helped and not afraid to speak out and say, ‘Look, I’m hurting and I’m thinking about going away [it will help],” planning committee member Kat Lawson said. “I think people should be allowed to hurt out loud.”
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • A17
Fall Home Guide Special Advertising Section
O
ctober is the time to take on a project or two. Whether you are looking to redesign a room, revamp your summer garden or prepare your home for winter, we’ve got you covered. Browse through our fall home guide for advice, tips and resources for every aspect of home improvement.
Revamp your countertops with Granite Transformations see page A20
INDEX
Try a furniture store with more at Issis & Sons, see page A22
Create a fall container garden with Hannah’s Garden Shop, see page A18
Arch. Hardware..........A23 Batts’ Chimney..........A20 Brandino Brass..........A23
Christopher Glenn........21 Ecoview Windows.......A21 Granite Trans.............A20
Get your house clean with ease a finger with help from The Maids see page A23
Hanna’s Garden..........A18 Hollywood Pools.........A18 Issis & Sons................A22
Sew Sheri...................A23 The Maids....................A19
Fall
A18 • October 2014
How to plant a fall container garden
Home Guide
Village Living
Special Adversiting Section
Creating a ‘backyard oasis’
Hanna’s can help you create your own fall container garden.
Tips and ideas from Lorraine Fincher, sales manager over annuals, perennials and seasonal color at Hanna’s Garden Shop } Think outside the flower box. Pansies, violas and mums are popular fall and winter annuals, but consider expanding your plant palette to include snapdragons, dianthus, ornamental kale, Swiss chard or mustard greens. All of these will last throughout a typical Alabama winter. You can also add acorus grass for green color all year. } Mix it up. In addition to your flowers, try adding in greenery for a backdrop in your container. Ornamental grasses such as carex or juncus complement any annual or perennial bloom, as do evergreens such as false cypress, boxwood and arbor vitae. Your summertime marigolds and petunias can also remain in your containers until the first frost of the season. } Add pumpkins. Arrange a set of
ornamental pumpkins around your containers. Hanna’s sells a variety of sizes and textures in greens, whites, yellows and classic oranges. Be careful not to water your pumpkins when you water your flowers, though, so they don’t rot prematurely. } Vary container sizes. Instead of planting one large container, try placing plants throughout three different sized containers in one location. Each can feature plants of the same color or complementary colors. Hanna’s sells ceramic and concrete containers in a variety of sizes and colors. Hanna’s Garden Shop, located at 5485 U.S. 280 E. across from the Lee Branch Shopping Center, offers not just flowers but also trees, shrubs, fertilizers and gardening accessories, as well as the expertise of its staff. For more information call 991-2939, visit hannasgardenshop.com or email support@hannasgardenshop.com.
It may be the off-season for pools, but Hollywood Pool and Spa has plenty of other services to offer. Co-owner Billy Branch shares a little about the business. How did Hollywood Pool and Spa get its start? Hollywood Pools began in 1986 as a pool service and repair business with a small retail location on Hollywood Boulevard in Homewood. As the company grew, it became necessary to relocate to our current location on Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills. What is Hollywood Pool and Spa’s business philosophy? With our current product selection, we offer our customers anything they need to create a “backyard oasis.” What services do you specialize in? We offer a wide variety of pool services, including weekly cleaning and equipment
repair. We specialize in all pool renovations, including replastering, replacing pool tile and coping, and installing new vinyl liners. With summer being over and pools being used less frequently, what are some ways you continue to help customers? As our busy summer pool season winds down, we begin emphasizing sales of Sundance Spas, Big Green Egg and Weber Grills, and Crimson Casual and Lloyd Flanders patio furniture. Are you offering any specials during the fall and winter seasons? Whether it is the Fall Home & Garden Show, our annual Sundance Spas Truckload Sale or our huge Holiday Sale for Big Green Eggs, fall and winter are a great time to take advantage of discounted pricing on spas, grills and outdoor furniture. To learn more about Hollywood Pool and Spa, visit hollywoodpoolandspas.com.
Fall
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How to love cleaning day — call The Maids
The Maids began cleaning homes in the metro Birmingham area in 1987. With our 22-step Healthy Touch Cleaning System, we give you the healthiest, most thorough housecleaning ever! The Maids offers thorough and dependable cleaning, utilizing the three-tofour-person team concept and environmentally preferable products. The Maids insures and bonds our employees and pays all employment taxes. Our success is a result of our commitment to our employees and customers. We have an unconditional 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Our goal is always satisfied customers! The Maids has a commitment to give back to the community. Those we support include the Bell Center/Service Guild, Exceptional Foundation, Junior League, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Alabama Symphony and
many of our local schools. The Maids is a sponsor of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, and all of The Maids yellow company cars proudly display their license plates. The Maids is a member of the local chamber of commerce and the Better Business Bureau. Most of our clients say, “I love it when it’s cleaning day…Coming home to a spotless house is something our entire family looks forward to.” Weekly or every other week cleaning gives our clients time to spend doing the things they really enjoy. We also offer move-in/ move-out cleanings and other frequencies of service. Call today to enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and healthier home. For more information, call 623-4752 or visit maids.com.
TREAT yourself to a clean home
Home Guide
October 2014 • A19
Special Adversiting Section
Decorative architectural hardware
The walls of the Brandino Brass showroom are lined with brass, bronze and pewter. You are greeted with new products including copper mailboxes, lighting and fireplace accessories to warm your home. Brandino Brass specializes in door and cabinetry hardware, kitchen and bath accessories, lighting, and more to meet the needs of any new construction or remodeling project. What is Brandino Brass’ business philosophy? Buster’ father and Eric’s grandfather, Tony Brandino, started the business in 1948. It was founded on the principles of taking care of people and treating both the customers and employees as family. Along with daily customers, we work closely with architects, designers and contractors throughout the country, as well as generations of homeowners. What products does Brandino Brass offer? We showcase and supply the finest home design products from around the world with
architectural hardware and lighting. Brandino Brass also offers some of the highest quality brands made in the U.S.A. Brands such as Sun Valley Bronze, Colonial Bronze, Rocky Mountain Hardware, Class Grills, Reveal and Coastal Bronze supply fine bronze hardware. 14th Colony and Hubbardton Forge supply decorative light fixtures. Our newest vendors include Rasmussen for fireplace accessories and Copper Sculptures mailboxes, address numbers and plaques. What services do you provide? We offer a wide range of services through personalized, one-on-one consultations with our experienced and knowledgeable staff. We provide specific project estimates, on-site project analysis and architectural plan reviews. The showroom is open weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and afterhours by appointment. Brandino Brass is located at 2824 Central Ave. in Homewood. For more information, visit brandinobrass.com or call 978-8900.
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VL
A20 • October 2014
Fall
A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be
Home Guide
Village Living
Special Adversiting Section
A low-maintenance, low-worry countertop
When the weather gets frightful outside, a fireplace can be delightful. To ensure your chimney is in tip-top shape, the experts at Batts’ Chimney Services answered a couple questions concerning the safety and upkeep of your fireplace. Batts’ Chimney Services is a local family owned and operated, full service chimney company. Owner Phillip Batts said residents have been relying on Batts’ for its professionalism and knowledge to handle their entire chimney needs for 36 years. “Our goal is to provide the highest quality work at a reasonable price!” Batts said. How often should I have my chimney cleaned? The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, “Chimneys, fireplaces and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance and repairs shall be done if necessary.” My fireplace stinks, what can I do? A good cleaning will help, and during this process we can determine if there are other contributing factors that need to be addressed. I have water leaking into my fireplace and water stains on the ceiling and wall. Can your company fix my problem? We will complete a thorough inspection to determine where the water is coming from and help in the prevention of further leaks. Sometimes the problem is not chimney related. A roof problem can show up at
Granite Transformations can install its materials on top of existing countertops.
the chimney and deceive us. To learn more about Batts’ Chimney Services, visit battschimneyservices.com or call 956-8207. Visit csia.org/Homeowner-Resources/index.aspx for more FAQs on chimney service.
Countertops from Granite Transformations may look like an ordinary granite, quartz or recycled glass surface. But upon closer inspection, you’ll quickly learn how premium countertops from Granite Transformations will make your life easier. The company’s products are created by grinding up granite, quartz or recycled glass, then cooking it to create a new solid material. The end result is thinner but stronger than traditional granite and quartz. Instead of being porous, it’s solid and sturdy—not to mention that it can withstand heat up to 500 degrees. Best of all, Granite Transformations countertops are scratch and stain resistant and backed by a lifetime warranty. The thin design also allows the product to be installed easily on top of existing countertops with no demolition required. To clean it, you simply wipe it with soap and warm
water. There’s no maintenance thanks to Forever Seal! The experts at Granite Transformations provide a quick turnaround. Ninety percent of installs are completed in one day, but that won’t be the first time they visit a customer’s home. Instead of visiting a show room with staged commercial lighting, a design consultant brings samples to the home, allowing the customer to select the product in the natural light of the kitchen or bathroom where it will be installed. Birmingham native Brandon Plowden recently acquired a local franchise of Granite Transformations, one of 95 across North America with products manufactured in Sebring, Fla. To learn more about Granite Transformations, visit gtalabama.com or call 789-9771.
Fall
VillageLivingOnline.com
Save money with a new kind of window
Ernest Jordan explains the features of his EcoView Windows.
The most expensive window you can buy is the one you have today, according to Ernest Jordan. The cost, he said, comes from your utility bill if your house is more than 10 years old. By comparison, the EcoView Windows he sells can reduce heating and cooling bills by up to 40 percent. The windows typically pay for themselves in five to seven years. “After that you get a paycheck in your pocket that would otherwise go to a power bill,” he said. As the first step in working with EcoView, an estimator will come out free of charge to test entry points where the house might be losing energy. Typically the biggest benefit of all home improvements is windows, but they also work with doors and siding systems. EcoView windows start at $199, and all
are guaranteed for a lifetime. The best double pane window, which cost $399 installed, typically saves about $140-170 a year per window. “There’s no one else in town that sells a window that is that energy efficient,” Jordan said. Jordan is planning to change the name of his business to Green Home of Alabama, with a goal to provide a wider range of sustainable ecosmart home improvements. In whatever he does, his focus is on performance and the client. “It’s all about the client, it’s not about us,” Jordan said. “Whatever we do, it’s about providing the most we can to help that house to perform better.” To learn more about EcoView Windows of Birmingham, call 490-6045 or visit ecoviewwindows.com.
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Home Guide
October 2014 • A21
Special Adversiting Section
How to select antiques for the home and garden
When you visit Christopher Glenn, you’ll find collectible items from another era. With beautifully aged antiques and a large selection of decorative items, Christopher Glenn has everything you need to create the perfect atmosphere. To help you navigate the many options available, Chris Carter of Christopher Glenn has answered some questions. How can you tell the quality of an antique? Look at the overall proportions of the piece. Do the lines flow well? Are the legs and drawers as they should be? Check for the integrity and the construction methods, used such as the thickness of the wood or veneer. Has it been repaired or refinished? Are the pulls original? Is there discoloration/ oxidation where it should be? Many older pieces will have some cracks where there has been shrinkage through the years.
What are your most popular garden items? We sell a lot of cast stone, terra-cotta, glazed pottery and cast iron. Large containers have always been a big seller. How can you use antiques to create the perfect atmosphere in a room? I try to keep a large selection of chests because this is a good start for designing a room from scratch. One of the most important aspects is the accessories. We offer a large selection of one-of-a-kind paintings, mirrors and vintage Murano glass and lamps. My mantra has always been “stick with the classics.” You can tweak any look with fabric, paint and wallpaper, but you should purchase the best quality pieces. Things of quality have no fear of time. To learn more about Christopher Glenn, visit christopherglenninc.com or call 870-1236.
A22 • October 2014
Fall
Home Guide
Village Living
Special Adversiting Section
Taking care of the customer
Issis started in Pelham, Ala. in only a 2000 square foot showroom offering carpet and rugs. From the beginning in 1984 to today the philosophy is the same, “always take care of the customer,” as stated firmly by owner Steve Issis. The foundation of this business is founded on that simple, yet strong principle. With that in the foundation, Issis has grown leaps and bounds to
expand the main showroom to 100,000 square feet. The showroom on Highway 280 was opened in 1999 and is 20,000 square feet. The location is a full service store offering beautiful carpets, rugs, tiles, stone and hardwoods. A wonderful and exciting addition was added in 2007 to help our customers even more. That
addition was Issis & Sons Furniture Gallery in Pelham with a 22,000 square foot showroom. Managed by Nancy Gowens and a staff of talented professional decorators, the showroom offers all of the above plus a full line of quality fine furniture along with custom bedding & drapery services, accessories and lighting. This led to the opening of Issis at Greenbrier
in 2013 that is managed by the Gary Hughes and Moeen Chadury, again offering service and quality. The ultimate goal of all Issis stores is to make our customers happy by providing excellent service, amazing selections and quality products at affordable prices. To learn more about Issis & Sons, visit issisandsons.com.
VillageLivingOnline.com
What to know about fabric trends
Fall
October 2014 • A23
Home Guide Special Adversiting Section
Back in business
Shew Sheri features an assortment of contemporary fabric and a sewing essentials showroom. Photo by Keith McCoy.
Sew Sheri is not just a warehouse lined with bolts of fabric. It is a contemporary fabric, notions, hardware, trim and sewing essentials showroom with an open workroom, which also features Dorm Suite Dorm’s custom dorm bedding. Clients can choose or custom order fabrics for their home design projects. They may also schedule a consultation with a designer who can build on their design ideas and help them create exclusive pieces from our trend setting fabrics. The store works with clients at every stage of designing. Some are very savvy and already have specific ideas about their projects when they come in, and others are home design novices and feel more intimidated by the process. Sew Sheri’s designers get to know the client, their personality and their specific project needs. Owner Sheri Corey just returned from the WCAA (Window Covering Association of America) Color Theory Lecture in Atlanta.
Here are some trends in home fabrics she learned about: }} Moody shades are out, and happy patterns, colors. and prints are in. }} Blue, blue, blue! Rich, saturated blues are everywhere. }} Lush fabrics such velvet, suede and corduroy are a must for warm fall and winter décor. }} Modern versions of florals with bold colors and patterns are popular. }} Metallics are making a bold statement in home fabrics, furnishings and accents. }} Outdoor fabrics are coming inside for their unique patterns, longevity and durability. }} Home style follows fashion trends and mixing patterns is big, so if you are feeling unsure, start with an easy stripe/floral or plaid/color block. Sew Sheri is located at 2832 Culver Road. For more information, visit sewsheri.com or call 879-8278.
Jeff Seabolt
Jeff Seabolt is the hardware man. Having committed his whole life to the industry since 1987, Seabolt has been through some changes. In May of 2009, he was forced to close down Authentic Brass in Cahaba Heights due to the downturn in the housing market. After taking time to focus on the question of “what next?” Seabolt decided to reopen with a new location and commitment to the industry in which he’s grown up. “I’m having fun again,” Seabolt said.
“Although I do miss some of the old customers who were forced to close down as well, I have made new business relationships and am encouraged in what lies ahead.” Seabolt would like to invite old and new customers to come visit him with their hardware needs. Architectural Hardware Supply is located at 200 28th Street South. For more information on Architectural Hardware Supply, visit ahardwareman.com.
We are excited to introduce two new designers!
Danielle Palladino
Reb Baker,
Architectural Hardware Supply Jeff Seabolt jcbolt123@gmail.com 200 28th Street South Birmingham, Alabama 35233 205-910-4893 www.ahardwareman.com
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Village Living
SECTION B School House B4 Sports B8 Community B13 Calendar B14
Fighting back
Foundation funds local breast cancer research
By MADOLINE MARKHAM Eighteen months after her diagnosis, Dolly O’Neal knew she had to do something. Her daughter was 8 at the time, and she didn’t want her to suffer as she had. Eighteen years later, the $4.5 million raised by the foundation she started with Bruce Sokol in 1996 is more to her than a sum of money. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) has been the resource to help her in her own battle with breast cancer. In 2009, the Mountain Brook resident’s cancer came back, and close colleague Dr. Andres Forero of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center put her on Femara, a treatment that had been tested thanks in part to funding from the BCRFA. Another recurrence was diagnosed in December 2013, and she is on a new trial drug, Caravelle, that the center is studying. Today, O’Neal is grateful that she has been around for the three weddings and five grandchildren her family has welcomed since 2007. “Every year they seem to come up with something that’s a little closer to treatment to keep people alive,” O’Neal said. “My cancer will never leave my body, but you can keep it at bay with almost no side effects.” Thanks to research by the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and others around the country, four out of five breast cancer patients win their battles against cancer today, as compared to 30 years ago when four out of five lost their lives to it. Still, though, it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women. A history of support Sokol was inspired to raise money for research to help his wife, D.D., after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 1995. She passed
Dr. Andres Forero, left, researches breast cancer treatments from his lab at UAB and works closely with Breast Cancer Research Foundation founders Dolly O’Neal, middle, and Bruce Sokol, right. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
away after a five-year battle, but Sokol’s fight didn’t stop there. “When my wife died, I kept going,” Sokol said. “There are too many women in my life not to.” He teamed up with O’Neal in January 1996, and within 13 weeks, they raised $75,000 at an
LPGA tournament at Pine Tree Country Club, even after the club suffered tornado damage the week before the event was scheduled. The BCRFA has added 10 additional annual fundraisers, but the golf tournament is still going strong every April or May and has never met a rainy day.
The foundation also helps support fundraisers initiated by people throughout the state. Each year a former Alabama football player plans a paintball tournament, the city of Calera goes pink, Cullman is home to an
See CANCER | page B16
Village Living
B2 • October 2014
Community Dancer participates in ballet program in Moscow
Front row: Renee Fenn and Gail Braswell. Back row: Joseph Braswell and Pringle Ramsey. Photo courtesy of Marcia Twitty.
Clay events to benefit cancer programs Mountain Brook residents are working to organize the seventh annual Alabama Charity Clays sponsored by Baptist Health Foundation. The three-day event will take place Oct. 22-24. The first event, Annie Oakley, held Oct. 22 at Selwood Farm, is geared towards women with little to zero shooting experience but who are looking to have fun and support this cause. The second event, Sportsman’s Social, held Oct. 23 at Iron City, will feature Scott, the author of game recipe books who makes appearances on outdoor television and radio programs nationwide, as well as the JOX Roundtable The third event, Charity Clays, held Oct. 24
at Selwood Farm, will include a round of clay shooting on the course and lunch provided by Corretti Catering. Proceeds from this event will benefit the breast cancer survivorship network and other cancer programs at Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Through the network, nurse navigators advise and connect survivors and caregivers to the local resources to address their unique needs. Navigators are available as a free service to cancer survivors regardless of where they receive their treatment. For more information on the Alabama Charity Clays or to register contact Marcia Twitty at 243-2943 or marciatwitty@yahoo.com.
This summer, Elizabeth Lindsey studied Russian language, culture and ballet at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. The six-week program is funded by the U.S. Department of State to increase Americans’ capacity to engage with native speakers of critical languages. Before departing for Russia, Lindsey participated in three weeks of intensive ballet training in New York City with RAF’s Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive. With its 240-year history, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy is one of the oldest and most established schools for classical ballet training in the world. Back at home, Lindsey, a Crestline resident and high school junior, dances with Birmingham Ballet Academy and plans to perform in the company’s production of The Nutcracker Dec. 12-14 at the BJCC. She is the daughter of Frances and Cooper Lindsey.
Elizabeth Lindsey
Class of 1974 to hold reunion The Mountain Brook High School Class of 1974 is planning an event in celebration of their 40-year reunion. The reunion will be held on Oct. 11 at B&A Warehouse at 6:30 p.m. It will feature a dinner buffet, a cash bar and music from the ‘60s, ’70s and ’80s by local band, Streetkar.
Tickets are $85 per person or $150 per couple. RSVP and payment are due on Sept. 7. RSVP to Cindy Sherrill Canaday at canadayc@charter.net. The reunion is casual dress. For more information, visit mbhs74.com or call 870-7946. -Submitted by Elon Allen
2415 Canterbury Road Mountain Brook, AL 35223 Tues-Sat 10-6 By appointment 205.970.6767
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B3
Mountain Brook Baptist celebrates 70 years
Mountain Brook Baptist Church built a chapel in 1949, which is pictured three years after completion. The church originally met in a house in Crestline Village. Photo courtesy of Catherine Allen.
Mountain Brook Baptist Church first opened its doors two years after the city of Mountain Brook was incorporated. The church celebrated its 70th anniversary on Sept. 7 with a worship service and distribution of a new history book written by Drs. Lee and Catherine Allen. Starting in 1944, the church met in a small house at the corner of Jackson and Vine on a lot now occupied by the Mountain Brook Board of Education. Jackson was not paved, and Vine had not yet been opened except for a short distance around Dexter. The church meetinghouse had been built in 1927 by Richard A. Knipe, who had operated a convenience store and deli and became a chiropractor. When it became the site of the church in 1944, the house was renovated to make a chapel seating 95 people.
The first pastor, J. O. Colley, and his family, including three preschool-aged children, lived in an apartment attached to the house-chapel. His daughter and son-in-law Ruth Colley and Bryant Strain were sent out in 1968 to establish MBBC’s first daughter church, Brookwood Baptist. The current church site was purchased in 1945-46 for $18,500. The purchase included 3.46 acres. The first part of today’s church building was the chapel, constructed in 1949. “The church and community have strengthened each other and grown together through these 70 years,” Catherine Allen said. “From studying the history of the church, I have to say that the founders had a vision of strong and service-oriented community that continues to come to realization.” For more visit mbbc.com. -Submitted by Catherine Allen
Thomas earns Eagle rank Adam Anthony Thomas was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on Jan. 12 in a Court of Honor ceremony held at the Scout Building at Canterbury United Methodist Church. He is a member of Troop 63 under scoutmaster Harold Wells. As a cub scout, Thomas earned the Arrow of Light Award. He has been a member of Troop 63 since 2010 and during that time earned 24 merit badges and spent 44 nights camping. He also is a member of the Order of the Arrow. Thomas’s Eagle Scout project was to build an arbor and picnic tables for the Eco Garden at the Birmingham Zoo. Thomas is the son of Susanne and Jeff Thomas of Mountain Brook.
Adam Thomas
Art student wins award for fish paintings
Brother Swagler holds his awardwinning drawings. Photo courtesy of Susan Swagler.
Brother Swagler, a rising senior at Mountain Brook High School, recently placed first in Wildlife Forever’s 2014 State-Fish Art Contest for Alabama in the 10-12th grade category. Brother, an AP art student in Susan Davis’ class, has been painting fish for several years. He typically uses graphite to draw a topographical map as a background and watercolors to depict various species of fish in creeks, streams, rivers, lakes and coastal areas where they are found. His winning artwork for the 2014 State-Fish Art Contest depicted a largemouth bass on a map of Guntersville Lake. All first-place winners were invited to the 16th Annual State-Fish Art Expo in August in Colombia, S.C. A diverse panel of judges selected art winners from a field of thousands in their state and grade category. Brother said his art allows him to express his love of fishing and the outdoors. All of the fish he paints are ones he has caught fishing with his father, uncle or friends, mostly on waters in and around Birmingham. He is the son of Rick and Susan Swagler and lives in Crestline.
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Village Living
B4 • October 2014
The story behind the Mystics By MADOLINE MARKHAM The Mystics of Mountain Brook Parade has descended upon the streets of Crestline Village for more than a decade now. In anticipation of the event, we talked with Casey Horn, who started the event with her brother, Trent Wright.
Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade
Q A
How did the parade get started? My mom’s birthday is on Halloween, so we’ve always been big Halloween people. Being from Mobile, we are also big Mardi Gras people. We wanted to bring a little Mardi Gras to Mountain Brook, so we started on Dexter 11 years ago with a few cars and children and bought beads and moon pies at Toomey’s Mardi Gras supply in Mobile.
Friday, Oct. 31 4 p.m. Crestline Village The Mystics of Mountain Brook Parade welcomes residents of all ages to dress in costume on Halloween.
Q A
How has the event evolved over the years? It’s gotten a little bigger every year. Over the years it has gotten so big that the Mountain Brook Police Department treats it as a true parade that goes through the center of town, which we love. New businesses find out about the parade, and we love having the community get so involved with it.
Q A
How is it similar to and different from a Mardi Gras parade? Down in Mobile, they also throw moon pies, and we wanted to bring that here with the beads. The floats are much larger in the Mardi Gras parades, but every
year we have a contest and every year everyone is getting more competitive with their floats here. It is scaled down from what happens in Mobile.
Q A
What can people expect to see in the parade this year? The cheerleaders and Dorians walk in the parade, and we usually have the roller derby team. The library gets involved and last year had fairy tale characters walking in the parade. We ask the high school band every year, but they haven’t done it yet. There are just so many to
remember because we have close to 23 floats. It lasts around 40 minutes.
Q A
past?
What have been some of your favorite groups or floats in the
One year a man made a dragon that shot smoke out of its mouth. Another man rigged up a coffin and dressed up as a vampire inside of it. Sugar wins something almost every year because they do something different just about every year related to their store. One year there was a Duck Dynasty float. Whatever is big that
year is what people tend to go toward.
Q A
Where will the money you raise from entry fees go this
year? Any money left over after we pay for the T-shirts and police goes to beautification projects for the city.
Q A
What does your family do during the parade? My brother and I always have a float for family. We throw out as many T-shirts as we can. We have
them made every year with sponsors on them. We are always the last float before the fire truck with the mayor and have a different theme every year.
Q A
that?
You advertise that the parade goes on rain or shine. Why is
In Mobile if it rains, the float still rolls. You can’t have a Halloween parade the next weekend and it still be a Halloween parade. We have had some close calls in the past, but nothing has stopped it.
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B5
Shopping discount card to support Junior League
Matthew Couch, bar manager, and Mauricio Papapietro, owner of Brick & Tin, will welcome Shop Save & Share customers to both their Mountain Brook and downtown locations.
Starting this month you can find discounts at area shops and restaurants through the Junior League of Birmingham’s Shop, Save & Share program. When you purchase a Shop Save & Share card for $40, you receive a 20 percent discount on merchandise and food at more than 530 participating stores and restaurants. Meanwhile, your $40 goes directly to support the League’s 34 community projects. This year’s Shop Save & Share program will run from Oct. 22-Nov. 2. “Personally and professionally being involved in something like this that supports the community is
incredibly important,” said Mauricio Papapietro, who owns participating restaurant Brick & Tin. Other participating Mountain Brook merchants include Smith’s Variety, the Cook Store, Lamb’s Ear Ltd., A’mano, Hollywood Feed, Sugar, Snoozy’s Kids and Western Supermarket Wine Market. New to the event this year are the McWane Center and the Birmingham Zoo, which will offer cardholders 20 percent off memberships during the sale. Visit shopsaveshare.net for a complete retailer listing, to purchase a card and for more information.
Designer recognized by national magazine Interior designer and Mountain Brook resident Dana Wolter has been named by the editors of TRADhome as one of this year’s “New Traditionalists.” Each year, ten designers are chosen nationwide as rising stars, with a focus on one design project from each. Selected partly for their expert skills and distinct styles, each finalist brings a renewed point of view and approach to interior design. Wolter believes that a home should be a retreat, a place to make lasting memories. Her method to design stems from a desire to bring a sense of purpose to each room, omitting clutter and creating a place for every item. She hones in on her clients’ lifestyles to ensure their interiors are aligned with their personalities. The design project that secured
Dana Wolter
Wolter’s inclusion as a “New Traditionalist” was installed with a layered approach, combining family mementos that had been collected over time with wood, metal and linen accents that reshaped the home’s cottage-style charm. Wolter’s clients, a family in Mountain Brook, enlisted her
expertise to enrich the home’s interior. “I had great fun working with the family to redesign their home,” Wolter said. “My clients stepped out of their comfort zone, and it resulted in a kinetic synergy of old and new.” Beginning with a color palette of linen white in the kitchen, Wolter continued with similar neutral hues throughout the home. This action alone eliminated the home’s original discordant use of color, bringing a more cohesive feel. “The overall design of the home’s interior now pairs well with the homeowners’ personal taste,” says Wolter. “In the end, the space offers a sophisticated and chic, yet classic appeal.” To learn more about Wolter’s work, visit danawolterinteriors. com.
Church to host senior adult conference Most senior adults are seeking information that will be available at the Better Choices Conference held at Mountain Brook Baptist Church on Thursday, Oct. 9. Participants will choose to attend three of the six 45-minute breakout sessions led by professionally qualified leaders. Sessions and leaders will include: ê Caregiving – Debbie Moss, RN, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dawson Memorial Baptist Church ê Building Your Financial House – Conrad “Quint” Cook, Executive Vice President, FI-Plan Partners ê Estate Planning, Wills, Living Wills – Glenn Estess Jr., Partner, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt LLC; Laura Jackman, Attorney ê Health Choices for Aging Well – Debra W. Morrison, MS, RDN, LDN; Assistant Professor and Director of Dietetic Internship, Ida V. Moffett School of
Nursing ê Simple Exercises to Stay Fit – Leigh Karagas, Certified Personal Trainer and Owner, EveryGirlFitness ê A Lifestyle For Spiritual Wellness – Debbie Duke, MSN, RN; Congregational Health Program Director, Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing. Lunch will be at noon with an address on The State of Health Care by Keith Parrott, CEO of Baptist Health Systems. Free health screening will be provided on a drop-by basis throughout the morning. Dr. Doug Dortch, MBBC senior minister, extends a warm welcome to the community and encourages residents to attend from this free, informative conference. More information is available at mbbc.org.
Village Living
B6 • October 2014
For a time such as this Church equips parents with workshops in Mountain Brook Village By MADOLINE MARKHAM The youth Cameron Cole works with aren’t the same ones he knew five years ago. As culture evolves, so do the struggles of teenagers, Cole said. Consequently, it’s hard for parents to keep up with these changes. Now Cole and fellow ministers at Cathedral Church of the Advent are using what they learn from teenagers in youth ministry to offer a series of workshops to help parents address challenging issues. “What we are trying to do is function as a bridge to communicate to parents what the students are struggling with as it pertains to sex, media, etc. and talk to them about how Jesus and the gospel informs them in helping guide their kids,” said Cole, the church’s director of youth ministries. To determine topics for the Faith and Family sessions, the church asked parents about their concerns with parenting, and found the same themes they mentioned were the ones they were seeing in youth as well. The number one topic requested was depression and suicide. “There seems to be a lot more despair and depression than in what I saw in the past,” Cole said. “And on top of that, Mountain Brook has a high suicide rate, and so clearly students are having a difficult time coping with difficulty and suffering.” The second most requested topic
was on students and their relationship with food, which a session held in September addressed. Cole said there are few young women his ministry encounters who don’t have some level of anxiety or guilt related to eating. Another trending theme is how parents can teach their children to engage with culture while also protecting them from it. Cole knows that students are bombarded with messages from every direction and said that they are typically steps ahead of their parents in learning new technology that can potentially be damaging. “Parents have to be protective about their kids, but at the same time it’s impossible to completely protect your kid from everything,” Cole said. “Because your child is going to be exposed to material, parents also need to learn how to engage in appropriate material and help their kids interpret it and why it is good or bad.” This month, Cole will address “Good Sex” for the Faith and Family series. He said his ministry sees a lot of youth struggling with sexual addiction in particular, and many of them relate to having heard messages about sex that were very restrictive. Another theme among youth struggling with this is that their parents didn’t talk about sex very often and that they were not very affectionate around their kids. Cole advocates for teaching about healthy boundaries from a Christian perspective and what the Bible says
about abstinence, but that’s not where he sees the conversation ending. “And at the same time, if parents and the church are not talking about sex in positive terms, as a gift from God that married couples are meant to enjoy, if there is a lack of hesitation of affection around kids, that too can be harmful to kids,” he said. “Given all the problems we have seen kids have with compulsive and addictive behavior, we are trying to approach sex not just in terms of the rules but also encourage people to be more open about it and positive about it.” Cole said they intentionally planned the events to be held the church’s Cranmer House down the street from Olexa’s in Mountain Brook Village in hopes that they would welcome people in the community who don’t necessarily go to their church or to any church. Each session, held on third Wednesdays of the month, begins with a 30-minute lecture followed by a panel discussion with counselors and clergy. From there, dialogue opens up with all parties present. Many participants stay afterward to talk more about the topic. “A lot of parents are comforted to know they are not alone in their struggles and their sense of inadequacy in parenting their kids,” Cole said. “It’s comforting to know that God speaks to this and that it’s not like technology and culture have outrun the hopeful news of what Jesus has done.”
Faith and Family Sessions All sessions are held at 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. at Cranmer House, 2828 Culver Road.
Cameron Cole
Gil Kracke
Mark Gignilliat
Joe Gibbs
Oct. 15 Good Sex: Positive — Not Shameful— Approaches to Christian Sexuality Cameron Cole
Nov. 19 Is My Child Crazy? Understanding the Brain of a Child Gil Kracke
Jan. 21 Depression and Suicide: Helping Kids Cope Cameron Cole and Gil Kracke
Feb. 18 What Do I Do? The Role of Wisdom in Parenting Mark Gignilliat
March 18 Offense v. Defense: Protecting Your Child While Preparing Them for the Real World Joe Gibbs
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B7
Fall festival roundup Saint Luke’s Trunk or Treat Oct. 29, 6 p.m. Saint Luke’s Parking Lot Wear your costume and join in for trunk or treating. Children must be supervised. Call 871-3583 for more.
Mountain Brook Baptist Fall Festival Sunday, Oct. 26, 4-6 p.m. Join the church for hot dogs, inflatables, games, prizes, balloon animals, face painting, live music and more. All activities are free. Contact Mary Splawn at 871-0331 for more.
Canterbury Methodist Church Spooktacular Carnival Sunday, Oct 26, 4-5:30 p.m. Cotton candy, carnival games, inflatables and food support are free, but the church asks that you consider making a donation to its Project Hope Outreach initiative. Contact Sara Thetford at 874-1522 for more.
Brookwood Baptist Church Fall Festival Sunday, Oct 26, 3:30-6 p.m. Inflatables, games, trunk or treat, and food are all free. Follow the signs to the back of the church for registration. Mountain Brook Community Church will not be holding a fall festival this year due to construction.
Canterbury’s carnival benefits its student ministries’ mission project.
Women’s Committee of 100 celebrates 50th anniversary
New officers: President Dr. Jeanna Westmoreland, First Vice President Nan Teninbaum, Second Vice President Bet Wright, Assistant Treasurer Carol Hines and Treasurer Kate Millhouse. Photo courtesy of Melissa Allphin.
This year the Women’s Committee of 100 met to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The event honored new and past officers as well as recognized the “Golden Girls” who were a part of starting this group. During the program, the Golden Girls shared about acting as hostesses to Birmingham during the 1960s. Their job was to show that Birmingham, though touched with grief, was a city that had much to offer. Past presidents offered stories
of cherished friendships and fun during their time served. “Our job is to be as [outgoing President Carolyn Satterfield] has been,” said incoming President Dr. Jeanna Westmoreland. “Someone who defines reality, says thank you and in between the two shows servant hood.” The event was held at the home of Lyndra Daniel, and flowers were provided by member Dorothy McDaniel.
Village Living
B8 • October 2014
Enjoy a taste of Jewish culture 12th annual Jewish Food Festival coming to Mountain Brook By KATIE TURPEN This October, the community is invited to participate in an outdoor culinary celebration of Jewish heritage and culture. The Levite Jewish Community Center (LJCC) will be hosting its 12th annual Jewish Food Festival on Oct.19 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This year, the popular event will be moving outdoors as guests are invited to the LJCC soccer field. Executive Director Betzy Lynch said they usually have around 1,000 people in attendance and she is expecting a large crowd again this year. “We have volunteers that prepare for this festival for months in advance,” she said. “We want people to come eat and hang out into the afternoon.” Traditional Jewish foods, deli items and Israeli street food will be cooked in-house in celebration of the Jewish fall harvest holiday of Sukkot. Menu items include traditional beef brisket, which Lynch said is slow cooked and “melts in your mouth.” There will also be Noodle Kugel (giant egg noodles) and stuffed cabbage rolls with beets, which Lynch said are “a mix of both sweet and sour.” Falafel sandwiches (made of fried chickpeas), whitefish salad (a creamy smoky dish), potato bourekas (mashed potatoes in puff pastry),
LJCC Jewish Food Festival Oct. 19 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Levite Field bhamjcc.org
Traditional Jewish foods, deli and Israeli street food will be cooked in-house in celebration of the Jewish fall harvest holiday of Sukkot. Photos courtesy of Robin Smith.
matzo ball soup (giant dumplings), Israeli salad (made with cucumbers and tomatoes) and corned beef sandwiches will be served. Desserts such as cinnamon challah bread will be provided by Ricki’s Bakery from Memphis. In addition to a variety of foods,
the festival will feature craft vendors, live music from the Ori Naftaly Band, a pumpkin patch, hay rides, Owls Hollow Market and a cornhole tournament. “It’s a great opportunity for the community to come out and have a taste of Jewish food,” Lynch said.
“A big part of who we are is sharing with others.” The Levite Jewish Community Center has been in Birmingham since 1906 and is a family-oriented recreational and educational facility as well as a United Way agency. The facility offers a wide
Hands on Care, Close to Home.
array of programs and activities in sports and fitness, childcare, education and more. The LJCC is located on Montclair Road and welcomes to people of all faiths, ages and backgrounds. For more, visit bhamjcc.org.
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VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B9
An artful
welcome MBHS graduate dreams up colorful collection of prayer flags for the Dalai Lama By MADOLINE MARKHAM Colors will fly in the air to welcome the Dalai Lama to Birmingham this month. Thousands of handmade prayer flags will be draped around Regions Field and civil rights sites for the Tibetan spiritual leader’s arrival on Oct. 24. Mountain Brook High School graduate Carrie Bloomston, who heard the Dalai Lama speak in Atlanta in 1997, describes the experience as incredible. “The love that radiates from him is huge, so I thought I had to go see him and take my kids to see him in my hometown,” she said. Around the time she heard of his visit, Bloomston had just created a prayer flag project with fabric from a line she designed, which spurred the idea for her and her mom, Rhonda Greenberg, to create and gather flags for the Dalai Lama’s visit to Birmingham. “His Holiness was drawn to parallels between his work and Martin Luther King Jr.’s work [in Birmingham],” Bloomston said. “For me, that’s what felt so deeply personal. It’s historical civil rights and current human rights issues.” Traditionally, Tibetan prayer flags have been hung on mountain peaks and sacred sites. Recently they have become a popular vehicle for creative expression. Within a few weeks of developing the idea,
Mother-daughter duo and Mountain Brook natives Carrie Bloomston and Rhonda Greenberg started a prayer flag project for the Dalai Lama’s visit to Birmingham this month. Photo courtesy of Carrie Bloomston.
Bloomston received a green light on the flag project from the Birmingham mayor’s office. About four months remained to complete it, but the project quickly picked up speed.
“It’s really developed a life of its own,” she said. “It’s really not about us, it’s about every single person who has contributed. It has its own momentum at this point.”
Leading up to this fall, Bloomston led flag workshops in Phoenix and Birmingham and encouraged others to host them all over the country. “Just like his message is to spread loving kindness in the world, that’s what this project is about,” she said. “We have Christians, Jews, Muslims, any kind of religion represented, as well as pieces of art that have nothing to do with religious practices.” Bloomston, who now lives in Phoenix, eagerly anticipates not just seeing the Dalai Lama speak later this month but also returning to the community that first celebrated her as an artist. For her, the event will honor how far she believes we have come, and call awareness to issues that still need to be moved. “It feels really amazing because I love Birmingham and feel at home when I come,” she said. “To come home bearing gifts for the city feels good.” Events open to the public for the Dalai Lama’s visit include the Beyond Belief Interfaith Moderated Discussion on Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. at the Alabama Theatre and An Afternoon With His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Featuring the Alabama Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. at Regions Field. For more, visit birminghamhumanrights.com. To learn more about the flag project, visit happyflagproject.com.
Village Living
B10 • October 2014
Aviation pioneers
Mary Alice Beatty holds her daughter Madelyn in front of the D. C. Beatty Expedition plane, Simon Bolivar, before departing for South America.
By MADOLINE MARKHAM Mary Alice Beatty didn’t get asked many questions about the two plane propellers in her living room. Instead, it was the anaconda skins, poison darts, blowguns, grass hammocks and war drum that got people talking. In her home at Montevallo Road and Overhill Road, Beatty’s Venetian glass and table settings and two Steinway pianos shared space with
memorabilia from her life in South America, where her husband, Donald, was a pilot in the 1930s. A self-taught pilot, Donald built his first airplane using a motorcycle motor at age 16, just 13 years after the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903. He studied radio during World War I and built radio stations around the world, but it was a plane that helped him win Mary Alice. They had met at a party at the Tutwiler Hotel,
and sometime thereafter Mary Alice traveled to Annapolis for a party and got engaged to an old boyfriend. Donald took action when he heard the news, flying his plane along the railroad tracks out of Birmingham until he found her incoming train. He landed in a field and climbed aboard the train, found Mary Alice and ordered her to take off her ring, placing his own mother’s ring on her finger. “You’re mine, and don’t you forget it,” he told her.
They married in 1925, and with that, their adventures in the air together began. In their early years, Donald taught Mary Alice to fly, but she didn’t tell anyone because she knew flying was for men, not girls. “He taught me to love the sky and to feel right side up and upside down in the clouds,” Mary Alice wrote in her 1986 memoir, To Love the Sky. In the 1920s, airlines were not capable of flying over the Andes Mountains in South
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B11
Donald and Mary Alice Beatty pose in their Mountain Brook home in 1978. Donald died two years later, and Mary Alice in 1995. Photos courtesy of Mary Alice Beatty Carmichael.
America from coast to coast, and Donald envisioned a route to change that. The stock market crash in 1929 halted his original plans for a business and trade expedition, but the market crash did not lessen his determination. Donald waited a full year to meet with J.P. Morgan to propose a scientific expedition. Once he arrived, their five-minute meeting turned into several hours because Morgan was so excited about Donald’s ideas. In 1931, Mary Alice left their young daughter
Madelyn with her parents to fly with Donald at the start of the expedition. She sat on top of the gas tank with reverberations going through her whole body, drinking nothing because there was no room for food or drink, much less additional clothing, during their day flights. They flew to Cuba, then in revolution and under martial law, before encountering a hurricane and later being rescued by a British battle cruiser’s lifeboat off the coast of Honduras. They then crossed over mountain peaks and
rivers in the “green hell” of Honduras to the “pilot’s graveyard” of Nicaragua. It made Mary Alice “long for the peace and quiet I had known in Birmingham.” After landing in Panama, Mary Alice returned home via a Standard Fruit boat to New Orleans while Donald embarked on an eight-month trek from Quito, Ecuador, to Iquitos, Peru. On the journey, Donald snapped photos of the Jivaro natives and documented their ceremonies and living conditions. He also shipped back animals he had found as a fifth birthday gift for Madelyn. The creatures lived in cages in the Beattys’ rose garden and keep everyone awake at night before being donated to the zoo. The Beattys’ next adventure would take them to live in Chile with Madelyn. On the journey down via air, Madelyn was fascinated by natives who wore no clothes and used dugout boats. In Chile, Donald flew to look for a plane that had disappeared in the most dangerous pass in the Andes. While flying over the Andes, Donald kept strict records and determined the safest time to fly in the mountains is in the early morning, a rule that is still in practice and that his children have seen followed on their travels. Later in his career he would also create maps of air currents over the Pacific Ocean that airlines still use. Donald was later transferred to what Mary Alice called “beautiful, need-nothing Panama” to manage the Northern Division of Pan American-Grace Airways. There, Mary Alice Jr. and Donald Jr. were born in 1936 and 1938. Still full of the determination he had when he met with Morgan, Donald tried to help the airline establish a new route across the continent from the Pacific to the Atlantic through the Amazon basin. As the years went on, there were several times when Mary Alice lost communication with her husband and feared the fate many of his fellow pilots had met. Her own fears grew as she watched other pilots’ wives “crack with fear.” After 25 moves in their first 20 years of marriage, the Beattys settled back in Mountain Brook after World War II. They lived with Mary Alice’s parents on Canterbury Road for a few years before Donald built a home at Montevallo Road and Overhill Road, where the couple lived for the remainder of their lives.
Donald would continue to work in research and development for telecommunications and electronics while also accumulating a number of patents, including ones for an answering machine and hands-free telephone (although no one knows who invented them). His grandchildren would know him for his boats, one of which was named “Pat Pending,” and his collection of artifacts house at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Mary Alice owned and managed real estate parcels and established a museum at Samford University that would grow into the Southern Museum of Flight. Today the Birmingham institution holds parts of their planes, Donald’s World War I uniform, letters and doors to the “throne” that was an early airplane bathroom. Both Donald and Mary Alice were installed in the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame and remain the only husband-wife couple to receive the honor. Mary Alice was a charter member and the only woman in the OX5 Aviation Pioneers, Alabama Wing, and both were charter members of the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio. Since their deaths in 1980 and 1995, the Beattys’ daughter Mary Alice Beatty Carmichael has pieced together her parents’ historical mark from memorabilia they left. Many of Donald’s adventures were coupled with tragedy, as many fellow pilots were lost, and he didn’t talk of them often in his later years. He passed along funny stories, such as the time he tried to convince a chief he met that he was supernatural by making music come out of his stomach, thanks to a radio canister he had placed underneath his shirt. “When he did tell stories, they were so riveting because you thought, ‘How would you live through these things?’” Carmichael said. “Mother said thos first ‘daring young men in their flying machines’ were looked upon like the first astronauts were looked upon.” Carmichael has been rounding up copies of To Love the Sky for her 11 grandchildren and hopes to republish the book with the addition of some of her favorite stories that were edited out of the original edition. “Mother wanted to publish the photos in it because no one would ever believe her stories without them,” she said.
B12 • October 2014
Village Living
A pumpkin patch for preschool Pumpkin Patch Mountain Brook Baptist Church Oct. 2-30 Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 1-6 p.m. Volunteers get into the spirit to celebrate the season and sell pumpkins. Photo courtesy of Sharon Howard.
By MADISON MILLER
Orange and white pumpkins were sold at last year’s pumpkin patch. Photo courtesy of Rick Simmons.
The Halloween spirit will be alive all month as the Mountain Brook Baptist Church Early Learning Center hosts its annual pumpkin patch. Pumpkins arrive on Oct. 2 and will be sold until Oct. 30. The selection will include many types of pumpkins, such as minis, squash, orange carving, white
and fairytale. The variety is provided by local supplier Bud Graves. Prices range from 50 cents to $20, with the average price around $10. “The specialty pumpkins go quickly, but toward Halloween, the orange pumpkins sell the best,” Director of Children and Family Ministries Sharon Howard said. The first pumpkin patch was held
in 2005 to benefit the Early Learning Center. In the past, funds raised from the patch have helped purchase items such as playground equipment and furniture for the center. The center has also donated part of the profits to the Children’s Hospital Sugar Plum Shop and provided toys, clothing and food for the Angel Tree.
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B13
School House Enjoying PE at MBE By HILARY ROSS Cherry Thomas and Matt Cain are the faces behind physical education each day at Mountain Brook Elementary Thomas has been at MBE for 25 years and now teaches children of former students. She is also one of the Girls on the Run sponsors for the MBE site. She enjoys backpacking the Appalachian Trail, participating in water activities at the lake, reading, and painting pictures of animals and landscapes. Coach Cain is in his 13th year with MBE and is an assistant football
coach at MBJH and the faculty sponsor for the MBHS girls varsity soccer team. He and his wife, Sarah Beth, have two young children, and he enjoys running, lifting weights, mountain bike riding, hiking, kayaking, and playing basketball. Grades K to six participate in PE at least 30 minutes daily, and preschool comes once per week for 20 minutes. During this time they play games such as soccer, flag football, lacrosse, softball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, and track and field. Recreational and cooperative games include team building games and challenges, climbing wall, parachute
activities, and dance. Fitness activities include heart rate monitors, dumbbell and barbell exercises, aerobic exercises, cross country trail running, and many other types of fitness components. The school participates in The Alabama Physical Fitness Assessment twice a year (fall and spring) and the HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle) program. According to student surveys, their favorite activities are gladiator ball, soccer and flag football. Grades 4-6 receive a grade in PE with skill, knowledge, and interactive behavior each counting for one-third.
Coach Cherry Thomas and Coach Matt Cain are pictured with first-grade students Maggie Simmons, Todd Melville, Comer Goodrich and Eva Jane Worthen.
Back to school at BWF
New clubs coming to MBJH
By KATHLEEN WOODRY
By DENA BERTE
Two great activities for the students and families of Brookwood Forest Elementary took place in August. First, the BWF family met at Overton Park for its annual back-to-school family picnic, which allows people to catch up with one another before the start of the school year. A week later, the sixth grade at BWF met at Overton Park for movie night. was the first of many events that will take place during the school year. Future activities for the BWF sixth graders will be a service project, ice skating, a sock hop, roller skating, a winter dance and a breakfast.
As a new year gets underway at Mountain Brook Junior High, students are given the opportunity to get creative with their extracurricular activities. Club meetings will be held eight to nine times a year during the “Spartan Period” offered to students within their weekly schedule. This time during the school day allows students to meet with their friends and club sponsors within their academic
Caroline Livingston, Micah Goldis and Caroline Harrison at Overton Park.
schedule and still maintain regular after school activities. Clubs will be focused on some sort of project the group chooses, and that project will be centered on service, innovation, creation or solution. Some clubs already underway include robotics, book club, architecture, aerospace, coding and school garden. The staff and administration have seen the importance of helping to create a place for everyone, which ultimately develops a well-rounded student.
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Village Living
B14 • October 2014
Meet the lunch bunch at MBE
CES welcomes new faculty By COLLINS CLEGG Three new teachers joined the Crestline Elementary staff this year. Erica Ogle joins the special education team, and this is her second year to teach. She is originally from Pell City but has lived in Birmingham for the past six years. Erica’s favorite hobby is soccer, and she loves to play whenever she gets the chance. Amy Anderson joins the fourth grade team and has been teaching for 13 years. She is from Mobile but has most recently lived in Auburn. Amy enjoys crafting activities such as vinyl lettering, sewing and painting. Debbie Holder joins the first grade team and has been
CES’s new teachers Erica Oble, Amy Anderson and Debbie Holder.
teaching for 11 years. She is originally from Birmingham but has lived in Gulf Shores
for the past 25 years. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis.
MBE Lunch Bunch Tammy Smith, Cindy Gilland, Beverly Reed and Sharon Austin.
By HILARY ROSS Mountain Brook Elementary cafeteria is a busy place where four ladies work to make school lunches delicious and nutritious. Cindy Gilland, MBE cafeteria manager, oversees the operation where she and her staff begin their day early preparing to serve lunch from 10:25 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. daily. Additionally, kindergarten students are served a healthy snack at 1:15 p.m. in the cafeteria. Approximately 300 to 350 children come through their lunch line daily either to purchase a full lunch or individual items. Mountain Brook City Schools Director of Child Nutrition Pam Stembridge creates the monthly lunch menus for the district. Each school is at liberty to prepare the food for the maximum flavor and appearance.
According to Gilland, students’ favorites include Wednesday “Chicken Day,” Cheeseburgers and Fries and Tacos/Taco Salad. She added that it is very encouraging when students rave about the lunches. Salads and sandwiches are available for those who may not like the hot lunch on a particular day. In lower grades, teachers help students make healthy choices. Food prepared in the cafeteria comes from Wood Fruitticher, and produce is from Franks Produce. The majority of the produce is grown locally when in season, and Barbers is the supplier of the milk products. School lunches are $3 for students, $3.50 for staff and $4.50 for visitors. Parents can visit their child for lunch and will undoubtedly be welcomed by the MBE Lunch Bunch.
BWF holds newcomer and kindergarten welcome By KATHLEEN WOODRY A newcomer’s and kindergarten party was held at Brookwood Forest Elementary before the start of the school year. The meet and greet event helps students and parents meet teachers and tour the school. Palmer, Diane Waud and Carson Lilly.
Co m In pl iti im al Ex enta am ry
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VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B15
Cherokee Bend introduces Red & Yellow Run
Cherokee Bend sixth-graders gather for a paint-splattered photo as they finish this year’s Red & Yellow Run.
By CATHERINE GASQUE During the first week of school, Cherokee Bend Elementary School held a pep rally to introduce the first Red & Yellow Run that was held on the afternoon of Sept. 14. Students and teachers dressed up to show the fun of the color run around the Cherokee Bend community. On the day of the run, participants from the school, as well as
the community, could participate in a 1-mile run and/or a 3-mile run, both of which were untimed and doused participants in paint while on the route. Signs to support the students were standing in front yards, and onlookers cheered on the participants. After the run, a celebration featuring music, drawings and dinner was held on the CBS fields.
CES welcomes new students BY COLLINS CLEGG Crestline Elementary welcomed 30 new students this August. A newcomers’ breakfast was held on Aug. 12 in the Crestline auditorium. Each new student was matched with a buddy from his or her class. The students enjoyed a breakfast of Chicken Minis and Magic Muffins while meeting the Crestline faculty and their teachers. They got a sneak peek at their classroom and even had a photo opportunity with the Crestline Cougar.
Hayes Windle and new first-grader Will Bruser meet the CES Cougar.
Parenting and Family with Dr. Dale Wisely
Teenagers and fit-pitching little freedom leads to stunted My daughter, who is 13, gets social development. Too much very hostile when I deny her freedom carries with it all kinds something she wants. It used to of risks: accidents, involvement in be material things, but now it crime, early experimentation with tends to be social events. When alcohol and drugs, and premature I tell her she can’t be with her sexual behavior. friends at a place or at a time Your daughter is pushing for of the night I’m uncomfortable more peer time and more freedom, with, she gets almost abusive. as you know. I assume you are Then she will pout and refuse limiting that based on your best to speak to me for days on end. Dr. Dale Wisely judgment, with the knowledge that How can I better cope with this? I need to start with a disclaimer, since I do some additional freedom is probably necesnot know you or your daughter and have no sary for your daughter to develop. Here are more information than what is in your ques- some guidelines to consider. Do not respond to your daughter’s nasty tion. It is always a good idea to talk this over with a professional who does know the sit- response to your limits by capitulating. If you uation better, and your child’s pediatrician do, the message to her will be “if you pitch a is often a great place to start. I am going fit that’s long and obnoxious enough, you will to assume her reaction is not related to any get your way.” That is not a particularly good serious psychological problem or psychiatric way to conduct one’s life as an adult, which is what you are trying to get her ready for. (I illness. It may be good to remind ourselves that one have pitched a few fits in my lifetime, and as of the developmental tasks of the teen years a rule, that has gotten me absolutely nowhere.) Sometimes “no” just has to be no. But if is the shift of social focus from the family to peers. Family is usually still important to teen- there is room for compromise that will allow agers, just less of a focus, as the desire to be her to get closer to what she wants but that with peers increases. Another developmental also satisfies your safety concerns, try to negotask of the teen years is for the teen to push tiate for that, but only when your daughter is stating her case calmly, respectfully and with for the most freedom she can get. That part is easy. The parents’ job is the a cooperative spirit. You might say to her, in hard part. The parent’s job is to allow enough a calmer moment, “I’m not going to give in to freedom, as the child grows older, to allow you, ever, when you react this way. If you are him or her to develop and to be exposed to calm, respectful and accepting that we have to the world, but not so much freedom that the make these decisions as your parents, we will risks to the child are unacceptably high. Too see what we can work out.”
Village Living
B16 • October 2014
Fashion show benefits Schools Foundation
CANCER
CONTINUED from page B1
Support BCRFA 9th Annual Belk Private Shopping Event Belk at The Summit Wednesday, Oct. 1
Little Black Dress Goes Pink WorkPlay Saturday, Nov. 1
Purchase a specialty license plate $41.25 of the $50 you pay goes to the BCRFA. Available at your local DMV or county courthouse. More information at bcrfa.org.
(above) Superintendent Dicky Barlow, sporting designs from Mobley & Sons, takes a selfie with Sparty during the show. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha. (left) The runway featured Mountain Brook merchants such as Impeccable Pig. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha. The latest in fall fashions around Mountain Brook met the runway at The Club on Sept. 16 for the Schaeffer Eye Center Fashions for the Foundation. The event, held by the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, benefited the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation. Mountain Brook merchants whose apparel was featured were Impeccable Pig, Monkee’s of Mountain Brook, Little Lavender, Mountain Brook Sporting Goods, Pants Store, Lingerie Shop, Ivory & White Bridal Boutique, Town and
Country Clothes, Mountain High Outfitters, Elle, Harrison’s Ltd., Snap Girls, Village Sportswear, Marella, Macy’s and Mobley & Sons. Fashion show emcees were Donald Clayton and Derek Dearman, principal and assistant principal at Mountain Brook Junior High School. The show was produced by Megan LaRussa Chenoweth of Southern Femme. For more, visit mtnbrookschoolsfoundation. com or contact Foundation Director Anne Womack at 414-0042 or mbcsfoundation@ bellsouth.net.
archery tournament, the color pink floods a youth football event in Gardendale, and 25 fire departments throughout the state raise $80- $100,000 dollars simply by selling special T-shirts in October. The Dixie Divas, a female motorcycle-riding group, welcome bikers in pink wigs, pink tattoos and pink shirts to raise $25,000 through its Revvin’ 4 Research charity ride. “It’s a remarkable thing the foundation has done,” O’Neal said. “Bruce and I had no idea this would end up where it has.” For Sokol, the most remarkable moment came when residents of Pleasant Grove presented the foundation with $1,500 just a year after it was struck by a catastrophic tornado. Funding local research Perhaps the most notable distinction of the foundation is its commitment to Alabama. All funds raised go to the center at UAB exclusively, helping provide seed money that enables them to receive larger funding grants. For example, Forero recently received a $6.4 million grant from Susan G.
Komen thanks to $30,000 in seed money the BCRFA gave him. In fact, for every $1 the foundation gives, UAB estimates it can leverage it for $16 more from national organizations. Sokol and O’Neal also note that beyond paying three staff members, virtually all money raised goes directly to research. The BCRFA presents around $500,000 it raises annually to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The community support from individuals and corporations has been phenomenal,” Sokol said. To get to this point, O’Neal said many survivors have jumped on board with their cause because they know research is key. It’s the fight of these women that she credits for funding that now is being used to fuel research for other cancers. Still, the fight continues. “There are so many women getting diagnosed, but they are getting diagnosed at an early stage so it is treatable,” O’Neal said. To learn more about the foundation, visit bcrfa.org.
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B17
Sports
Mountain Brook Football Recap Huntsville
21 - 22
The Spartans lost a tough decision on the road when Huntsville booted a 22-yard field goal with just 3 seconds left. Drew Odum had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Thursday game televised by Raycom.
Hoover
0 - 12
The Spartans played excellent defense but couldn’t get anything going offensively as they dropped their Class 7A, Region 3 opener.
Thompson
35 - 16
The Spartans picked up their first win of the season with a strong showing in the second half. Tied at 7 at halftime, Mountain Brook’s ground attack got rolling behind quarterback Jacob Carroll. John Eagan rushed for 83 yards, Harrison Pyburn added 80 and Carroll rushed for 79 and passed for 131 yards.
For updates on the Spartans’ Sept. 19 game against Vestavia Hills, visit villagelivingonline.com.
Remaining schedule 9-26 10-3 10-10 10-17 10-24 10-31
James Clemens Tuscaloosa County Oak Mountain Hewitt-Trussville Spain Park Huffman
Home Home Away Home Home Away
Mountain Brook defenders, including Ridley Culp (5), upend Hoover running back Marcus Webb in their Class 7A, Region 3 game at the Hoover Met. John Null (39) closes in to assist. Photo by Kevin Brooks.
Village Living
B18 • October 2014
AD reign winding down Terry Cooper built program into one of best in country
Mountain Brook High School Athletic Director Terry Cooper is surrounded by Spartan volleyball players. Cooper “cares about every sport” and “makes you feel your sport is the most important on campus,” said boys basketball coach Bucky McMillan. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
By DAVID KNOX Terry Cooper sees himself as a “behind-the-scenes” kind of athletic director.
“I do all I can to help our coaches be as successful as they can be,” the Mountain Brook school system’s AD said. “I try to do as much as I can for our coaches, whether that’s taking
certain things off their plate so they don’t have to worry with it, but it’s basically trying to serve them. And I try to be a behind-the-scenes person. The programs are about the kids. You
want them to have as positive of an experience as possible.” He’s done that pretty well. Under Cooper’s 23-year watch, which officially ends with his
retirement in October, the Spartans have won 91 state championships along with 30 runner-up finishes. As a coach, he’s directly responsible for two of those championships. He led
VillageLivingOnline.com the boys golf team to the 1997 state championship and the girls swimming and diving team to the 2002 state title. He might want others to be the “face” of Mountain Brook athletics, but those numbers suggest if he’s not been the face of one of the most successful athletic programs in the state, he’s been its backbone. He has spent his entire 38-year educational career in the Mountain Brook system. Last season, Mountain Brook was ranked 11th in the country in the MaxPreps Cup, which is based on firstand second-place finishes in state championship. No wonder school officials have asked him to stay on part-time in aiding a smooth transition to the next AD. “I think Coach Cooper’s strength is that he knows who will be a good fit at Mountain Brook,” said boys basketball coach Bucky McMillan, who led the Spartans to their first state championship last season. “We’ve got one of the winningest overall athletics programs in the state, and every coach here is a coach Coach Cooper has hired. “I was 23 years old coming out of college with no coaching experience. He saw something in me that said I would be a good fit here. He kind of had to go out on a limb. But he’s got the guts to do that. “He gives you so much freedom to manage your program. He hires you and then trusts you to run your program. So you don’t want to let him down.” Although he’s left the spotlight for the coaches and athletes, others have not overlooked his accomplishments. He was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He’s a member of the Wall of Fame at his high school alma mater, Emma Sansom in Gadsden, and his college alma mater,
October 2014 • B19
MBHS Athletic Director Terry Cooper, who has seen his programs win 91 state championships in his 23 years as AD, is retiring this month. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
Birmingham-Southern, inducted him into its hall of fame in 2004. He was also inducted into the Etowah County Hall of Fame. As an administrator, Cooper has been an active member of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association. He is currently serving on the Alabama High
School Athletic Association District 5 Board and Legislative Council and is a member of the AHSAA Central Board of Controls. Cooper was selected as the Alabama High School Athletic Director of the Year in 2000-01 and was the recipient of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Associations State
Award of Merit in 2006. The 61-year-old Cooper planned to step down next year. But knowing that Mountain Brook wanted him to help in the transition, he decided to go ahead and pass the baton to a new AD while assisting in the transition. “I just feel like it’s time,” Cooper said. “I’ve always heard you’ll know
when, and I just feel at peace and very comfortable. And the way some things have turned out, I can do it a year before I turned 62. I was probably looking at next October, and they said we’d just like to have somebody in here to work with you for awhile.” He doesn’t like to take the credit for what’s been accomplished during his tenure, but he’s proud of what the coaches and athletes have done. “Obviously, we’ve certainly won a lot of championships,” he said. “I don’t think we typically go into a season saying we want to win a state championship. Personally, my goal is for the team to reach their potential and then maybe even exceed their potential. Hey, when the game starts, I’m all for winning and we’re going to celebrate our victories and our championships, but we’re also proud of those teams that do their best and might not.” The athletic facilities are something else he’s proud of, and he gives a lot of the credit to the school board and support groups for that. He said in his mind, they’re akin to what you used to see on college campuses. “I’m also very proud of the growth of the program,” he said. “We have more kids involved and participating in sports than ever before, and we field a team in every sport the AHSAA sponsors — and we field a JV team in it and a girls team in it. We feel like we have a sport any student can be involved in. Having a program that’s able to offer opportunities for kids is really important.” McMillan added, “That’s another reason we’ve been so successful. Coach Cooper cares about every sport. He makes you feel your sport is the most important on campus. That’s why Mountain Brook is one of the top 20 programs in overall athletics in the country year after year.”
Village Living
B20 • October 2014
Mastering the course
Linebacker defies the odds By WILL DAVIS
Wells Marks skis the slalom course at the 2014 U.S. National Water Ski Championships.
By MADOLINE MARKHAM This summer Wells Marks didn’t want to go to camp. He just wanted to water ski. The Crestline Elementary fourth grader started slalom skiing at age 5 and skiing tournaments at 7. At age 9 he placed second overall in the nation in his age group at the 2014 U.S. National Water Ski Championships. He and his dad, Caldwell, skied about four days a week this summer, taking their boat to Lake Martin and a private lake in Vandiver. Prior to the national competition this summer, Wells placed first in trick, slalom and overall at the Alabama State Championship. At the Southern Regional Water Ski Championships, he placed second in slalom and fifth overall,
bringing him to third place overall. But after practicing twice a day leading up to nationals, he came home with a third place medal in slalom, second in trick and second overall. “The thing about the sport is you can always get better at it, kind of like golf,” Caldwell Wells said. “It was a lot of fun to watch him work hard doing something he loves to do.” Once he turns 10 later this year, Wells will move up from Boys I division to Boys II with other 10-13 year olds at a faster boat speed. He has already qualified to go back to nationals next year, but his dad said he is not going to push it too hard because there is a lot of competition. Instead he plans to ease into skiing at 34.2 mph, almost four mph faster than what he skied at this summer.
Few high school football players have the story that Mountain Brook linebacker Ward Webb has. Webb lost his legs in an electrical incident with a power wire when he was 5. A friend lost his life in the incident. But being a double-amputee has never stopped Webb from doing the thing he loves most – playing football. The Mountain Brook High School senior, who plays linebacker, dons his special prosthetic legs and plays on like everyone else. Webb has not been reluctant to share his story. Last year, he spoke to kids with special needs at an event for The Exceptional Foundation. Although it’s not been an easy path, Webb said he has been grateful throughout his journey for the support of family, friends and his teammates. “My teammates help me a lot, and my coaches have always been real good about it,” Webb said. “My coaches and pretty much the entire team [have influenced me],” Webb said. Mountain Brook head coach Chris Yeager knows what Webb means to his team. “[Ward] has been a great example of what a
good attitude and perseverance can do,” Yeager said. “He is a source of inspiration to me.” Yeager also noted the tight bond shared between Webb and his teammates. “[Ward] told me, ‘I have a second family with these guys,”’ Yeager said.
As for the remainder of the season, Webb says his goals are simple, both for himself and the team. “We just want to have a good season and play as a team,” Webb said. “I just want to have a good season.”
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B21
Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis
Ten ultimate truths girls should know Let me start by being honest — sometimes when I hear about teen culture today, I want to throw my hands in the air. I feel a little defeated in advance because of the societal and peer pressures I’m working against as my husband and I raise four daughters. Simply put, it’s a backward culture. That crazy, self-destructive behavior we don’t want our kids to engage in? Well, that’s exactly what can earn them popularity and acceptance into the cool crowd. Being kind and compassionate may make someone a shining star in the adult world, but among teens, being virtuous is rarely a cause for celebration. It’s all scary, and as parents we want to bulletproof our kids. We want them to make good choices, find good friends, and be confident enough to withstand peer pressure. If there were a magic armor to protect them, we’d fork over big bucks for it. But since no magic armor exists, we rely instead on something bigger and better: THE TRUTH. Because in the end, only the truth
can set them free (John 8:32). Only the truth can point our kids in the right direction and help them understand why they don’t have to compromise their future or integrity to find the love, acceptance, and security they desperately crave. With this said, I have some exciting news to share. If you follow me on social media you may have heard already, but if not, here are the details. I’ve written a book for teen and tween girls that applies God’s truths to today’s realities. Called 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, it will be released through Thomas Nelson on Nov. 4. Writing 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know was a labor of love, and I can’t wait to share it. This book is everything I want my daughters to know, designed to open their eyes wider to God’s love, grace, and purpose for them. Like anyone who invests in the next generation, my goal is to plant seeds — seeds that might take root now or 20 years from now. Some of my favorite
feedback so far came from a friend who shared the manuscript with her fifth grader. They read it together one night, and the next night, her daughter asked to read more because all day long at school, she thought about what the book said. That is what I’m aiming for here, that girls will stay mindful of God’s truths even when they’re away from home and navigating everyday life. I also hope this book encourages dialogue between parents and daughters. I hope it builds bridges that prompt you to share your teenage experiences. All of us have ridden that adolescent roller coaster, after all. All of us can remember, if we think hard enough, how emotional and invigorating that ride can be. God has a plan for my daughters and yours. He loves them more than us and has complete control of their lives. Our job as parents isn’t to save our children, but to point them to the One who can. And if we do that, guiding them toward the love of Christ, they’ll know the truth. They’ll have a moral compass to help them
find their way. Please know that I consider it a privilege to speak to tomorrow’s wives, mothers, leaders, and world changers. Our girls can’t hear the truth enough, and while we’re certainly working against a strong current, we’re also working for an almighty and invincible God. The Lord goes before us and with us (Deuteronomy 31:8). And when replace fear with faith, we gain the courage and wisdom to raise godly daughters in an ungodly world, daughters who can recognize the pressures they face and find solutions and solace in a deep, meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four girls, columnist and blogger for The Huffington Post. Join her Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer,” visit her blog at karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@karikampakis.com. Her book, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, is available for pre-order through Amazon, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble and Christianbook.com.
Village Living
B22 • October 2014
Calendar Mountain Brook Events Oct. 1: Fall Speaker Series: Becca Stevens. 6 p.m. Canterbury United Methodist. Learn how human trafficking is close to you and find out how we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by it. Visit canterburyumc.org/ fallseries. Oct. 2-5: Antiques at the Gardens. Thursday 1-5 p.m., Friday & Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Renowned tastemakers and dealers from across the country will curate themed areas. $10 nonmembers, free formembers. Visit bbgardens.org/antiques or call 414-3950. Oct. 2-30: Annual Pumpkin Patch. Mondays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays 1-6 p.m. Mountain Brook Baptist Church. Pumpkins range from 50 cents to $20. Visit mbbc.org. Oct. 2: Mountain Brook Varsity Football vs. Tuscaloosa County. 7 p.m. Mountain Brook High School. Oct. 8: Aware Meeting: The Drive for Perfection. 5:30 p.m. Emmet O’Neal Library. Nicole Siegfried, PhD, CEDS, a licensed clinical psychologist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, will speak. Visit the Aware page on Facebook for more. Oct. 14: Flu Vaccinations. 9 a.m. Birmingham Levite Jewish Community Center. $20 or bill your insurance. Call 879-0411, ext. 233. Oct. 16: Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. 11 a.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. District 6 Congressional candidate Gary Palmer will speak. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com. Oct. 17: Mountain Brook Varsity Football vs. Hewitt-Trussville. 7 p.m.
Emmet O’Neal Library Call 445-1121 Visit eolib.org.
Mountain Brook High School. Oct. 18-19: Fall Plant Sale. Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday Noon-4 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Proceeds benefit the gardens’ programs. Visit bbgardens.org. Oct. 19: 12th Annual Friedman Family Foundation LJCC Jewish Food Festival. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Birmingham Levite Jewish Community Center. Free. Call 879-0411, ext. 22. Oct. 19: Jews of Hollywood Film Series. 2 p.m. Birmingham Levite Jewish Community Center. Suggested donation $5. Visit bhamjcc.org. Oct. 24: Mountain Brook Varsity Football vs. Spain Park. 7 p.m. Mountain Brook High School. Oct. 26: Brookwood Baptist Church Fall Festival. 3:30-6 p.m. Trunk or treat, games, food and more. Call 967-0441. Oct. 26: Mountian Brook Baptist Church’s Fall Festival. 4-6 p.m. Call 8710331. Oct. 29: Sixth Annual Mah Jongg Tournament. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Birmingham Levite Jewish Community Center. $30. Call 8790411 ext. 233. Oct. 29: Saint Luke’s Trunk or Treat. 6 p.m. Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church. Wear your costume. Call 871-3583. Oct. 31: Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade. 4 p.m. Crestline Village. Participants on floats will throw beads, T-shirts, stuffed animals and footballs. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com.
Adults Wednesdays: Brown Bag Lunch Series. 12:30 p.m. Oct. 2: Church & Oak Book Group. 6:30 p.m. Church Street Coffee & Books. For title information, call Amanda at 445-1119. Oct. 11: Nightmare on Oak Street Horror Movie Double Feature. 5:30-10 p.m. Ages 18 and up.Call 445-1117 for titles. Oct. 13: Great Books Book Group. 6:30 p.m. Discussing short story “The Inherited Clock” by Elizabeth Brown. Oct. 14: The Bookies Book Group. 10 a.m. Discussing Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott. Oct. 21: Documentaries After Dark. 6:30 p.m. A film about ancient Egypt. Oct. 28: Genre Reading Group. 6:30 p.m. Discussing books on Halloween and fall.
Teens Oct. 4: Game On Tournament. 1-3 p.m. Oct. 6: TAB. 5-6 p.m. The monthly meeting of our Teen Advisory Board. Oct. 8: Skype Author Visit. 5-6 p.m.
Join us as we talk to one of young adult’s coolest authors.
Children’s Mondays: *Toddler Tales Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays: Together Time Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays: All ages movie. 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays: Evenings at EOL. 6 p.m. Wednesdays: *Mother Goose Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Thursdays: *Patty Cake Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Thursdays: SNaP. 3:30 p.m. Saturdays: Family Story Time with Mr. Mac. 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14: Family Night: Atlantic Coast Theatre’s Cinderella at the Sockhop. 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17: A Night Dark and Grim. Oct. 23: *Bookmania: The Land of Stories. 6 p.m. * Space is limited; call 879-0497 or visit eolib.org.
VillageLivingOnline.com
October 2014 • B23
Calendar Area Events admission. Visit caskanddrum.com.
Oct. 2: Birmingham Art Crawl. 5-9 p.m. Birmingham Historic Loft District. 2300 1st Ave N. Visit birminghamartcrawl.com.
Oct. 12: Vulcan AfterTunes. 3 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum. Live music by Dumpstaphunk. $15 adults, $8 members and children 5-12, free for children 4 and under. Visit visitvulcan.com.
Oct. 2-5: Marvel Universe Live! Times Vary. BJCC. Ticket prices start at $40. Call 800-745-3000 or visit marveluniverselive. com.
Oct. 16: Key To The Cure Pink Party. 5-8 p.m. Saks Fifth Avenue. A celebration during the Key To The Cure Charity Shopping Weekend. Saks Fifth Avenue and Saturday Night Live will partner to raise money for St. Vincent’s Birmingham Bruno Cancer Center. Call 298-8550, ext. 204.
Oct. 3-4: Alabama Butterbean Festival. Friday 6-10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Downtown Pinson, Ala. Butterbeans, live music, carnival rides, fair food, petting zoo, pony rides and arts and crafts vendors. Call 390-1952 or visit albutterbeanfestival.org.
Oct. 18: Annual Heritage Festival. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jefferson Christian Academy. Families can enjoy a variety of entertainment such as carnival rides, inflatables, live music, and other attractions. Visit facebook. com/JeffersonChristianAcademy.
Oct. 3-Nov. 1: Sloss Fright Furnace Haunted Tour. 5 p.m. Sloss Furnaces. Weeknights: $17 furnace tour, $20 combo ticket. Weekends: $19 furnace tour, $22 combo tickets. Visit frightfurnace.com. Oct. 3-Nov. 1: Atrox Factory Haunted Tour. 6:30 p.m. Atrox Factory. $18 during the week, $23 on weekends. Call 458-1393 or visit atroxfactory.com. Oct. 3-Nov. 1: Warehouse 31 Haunted House. 6:30 p.m. Pelham Event Center, 3050 Lee Street. Visit warehouse31.com. Oct. 4-26: Ride the Pumpkin Patch Express. Saturdays 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Sundays 1 pm. and 3 p.m. Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, 1919 9th Street, Calera. $17 adults ages 12 and up, $12 children ages 2-11, $12, Free for children under 2.
Will Hoge performs at Vulcan AfterTunes last year. The next concert in the series is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12 with Dumpstaphunk.
Oct. 5: Cheap Trick. 8 p.m.-midnight. Iron City. $45 general admission, $250 the meet and greet package. Call 202-5483 or visit ironcitybham.com. Oct. 8: The Head and The Heart with special guest Rayland Baxter. 8 p.m.midnight. Iron City. $27.50 in advance, $30 day-of-show. Call 202-5483 or visit ironcitybham.com.
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Oct. 10-11: Kathryn Tucker Windham Tale Tellin’ Festival. Swappin’ Ground at 4:30 p.m. Stories start at 6:30 p.m. 3 Church Street, Selma. $15 per night, $25 for both nights, $10 for students 12 and under per night, $15 for both nights. Call 334-878-2787 or visit artsrevive.com. Oct. 11: Cask + Drum Music Festival. All day. Lakeview district. $30-$35 general
Oct. 28: Carrie. 7 p.m. Alabama Theatre. A young, abused and timid 17-year-old girl discovers she has telekinesis, and gets pushed to the limit on the night of her school’s prom by a humiliating prank. 98 min. R. $8. Call 252-2262 or visit alabamatheatre.com. Oct. 31: The Black Jacket Symphony: Michael Jackson’s Thriller. 8 p.m. Alabama Theatre. Tickets start at $51.70. Call 800-745-3000 or visit alabamatheatre. com.
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