Village living vol 3 iss 9 december 2013 by Starnes Media

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013

Village Living Volume 4 | Issue 9 | December 2013

Right down Santa Claus Lane

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neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook

Away in a manger

Dancers, singers and floats galore will take to the streets of Mountain Brook Village for the annual Holiday Parade. Find all the details in this issue.

Community page B1

11 in a row

Mountain Brook Baptist Living Nativity celebrates 50 years By MADOLINE MARKHAM

The MBHS cross-country girls took the state 6A title yet again this year. Read more inside.

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INSIDE Sponsors ......... A4 Chamber ......... A5 City ................... A6 Business .......... A12 Food ................. A15 School House.. A16 Sports ............. A20 Community ..... B2 Faith ................ B14 Celebrations .. B16 Calendar ......... B17

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Angels were indeed on high at Mountain Brook Baptist Church. On cue, kids dressed in robes and halos levitated over live sheep, donkeys, cows and, of course, baby Jesus. The angels had walked down Montevallo Road and hiked up a hill to fly in the air, or at least appear to be on the hill behind the roof of the manger. And all of Mountain Brook was there to watch. Fifty years after the first production, the MBBC’s Living Nativity still welcomes 300400 people for each of three nights leading up to Christmas Eve. But the significance of the event is about more than numbers. “I think it’s meant a lot to this community and is about what the meaning of Christmas is — getting together to worship the Lord and maintain family relationships,” said Mary Scott, who played the original “Mary” in the nativity and is still a member of the church.

“I think it’s meant a lot to this community and is about what meaning of Christmas is — getting together to worship the Lord and maintain family relationships.” - Mary Scott

Members of Mountain Brook Baptist Church’s Living Nativity will reprise their old roles during this year’s production. The 50th-anniversary event will take place this month. Photos courtesy of Ed Willis.

Scott’s daughter, Ashley, and son, John III, acted in the nativity years later, and last year her grandson John Paul IV was an angel. Scott’s counterpart back in 1963, Richard Adams, who played Joseph, is also the first of three generations to play as wise men, angels and shepherds in the production. “I could repeat the whole [script], as could my children and grandchildren,” Adams said. “After three or four performances a night for three or four nights, you have it memorized.” The production’s organizers are hoping both Adams and Scott will be part of a special reunion night this year where members of nativity casts from over the years step into their old roles. According to the church’s history book, Dr. Dodson Nelson, MBBC pastor starting in the

early 1960s, realized the church had its biggest crowds at Easter and Christmas, and he wanted to do something to reach out to the community on one of those holidays. With that, it became a project of the associate deacons to tell the Christmas story to the community. The script for the 17-minute program has been the same all 50 years and has continued through rain and frigid temperatures. After all, no one can mess with the legacy of Nelson’s voice that plays on the recording. “Everyone says it’s what they imagine God’s voice would sound like,” said Ed Willis, who has run the sound for the production for the last 25 years after taking over for his dad.

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Village Living

A PUBLIC NOTICE FROM ALABAMA POWER T 41S

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Tree crews working in city through early 2014 Alabama Power contract crews are working in several Mountain Brook neighborhoods, removing trees and other vegetation that threaten the safety and reliability of our electrical system. As part of this process, Alabama Power goes to great lengths to talk with individual property owners. Company representatives are going door-to-door, leaving notices at locations where work is needed. If you have any questions before crews come by your home, please call Alabama Power at 1-205-257-2155 and ask for someone in the Vegetation Management Group to contact you. Or you can email us at apcvm@southernco.com. Work in Mountain Brook and nearby areas is expected to continue through early 2014. Also, you can go online to http://alpwr.co/vm where Alabama Power has further information about these safety and reliability measures, as well as resources for property owners who would like recommendations about planting the right tree in the right place. Thank you for your understanding. We appreciate your business.

POWI-3331 TreeTrimmrAd-MB Homewood.indd 1

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VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013

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December 2013

Village Living

About Us Please Support our Community Partners

Photo of the Month Virginia Lee Wood was recently awarded the third place prize in the Birmingham Museum of Art’s “Dish It Out” drawing contest for the Hip, Hippo, Hooray! exhibition. Collector Richard Baron Cohen selected his three favorite drawings from more than 200 entries. Virginia received her award from Cohen at a reception at the Birmingham Museum of Art and was awarded a trip to Disney World for her family.

A Christmas tradition Editor’s Note By Jennifer Gray This month’s cover story is about a really special tradition — Mountain Brook Baptist’s Living Nativity. Celebrating 50 years of bringing the story of Jesus’ birth to life for young and old, this Christmas tradition means so much to so many of us. For me, I don’t think I can remember a single Christmas where attending the nativity performance was not a part of my family’s celebration of the birth of Christ. I remember driving up in our car and parking early so that we were near the front of the lot, close to the stable. Everyone sat in their cars listening to the same audio narration that is still used today over the loud speakers. Getting there early meant that you could walk over and see sheep and shepherds by a huge bonfire on the lawn or visit the stable animals. The angels appearing on the roof above the stable was always a highlight. As a child, this production seemed larger than life. It shaped and helped me understand the true reason we

celebrate Christmas. It was also a special time spent with my parents and brother where we slowed down and reflected on the wonder of God’s gift to mankind. For many in Mountain Brook, like myself, we now get to share that wonder with our own children. One of my favorite things about this event is the coming together of generations. We no longer sit in parked cars but instead approach the stable on foot standing or sitting as the story unfolds before our eyes. My children now experience this tradition with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins alongside so many lifelong friends. It is the magic of Christmas. In the midst of to-do lists, Christmas cards to get in the mail, presents to wrap and cheer to spread, the nativity reminds us of “the reason for the season.” Make time to slow down with loved ones and enjoy this tradition or make one of your own. If you are looking for a new tradition this year, maybe look into our charitable

gift-giving guide. It will show you some wonderful non-profit organizations in which friends in our community are involved. With so many in our community giving their time and talents to others, it is merely a sampling of those organizations that would welcome your time or gifts. Don’t forget another Christmas tradition, the annual Holiday Parade in Mountain Brook Village. Or if you are a fan of The Nutcracker, this year would be a great one to take in the performance. Mountain Brook’s Mary Margaret Freeland is staring as Clara in the Birmingham Ballet’s production along with many other Mountain Brook performers. Village Living wants to thank you for a wonderful 2013. We look forward to sharing all of the events, news and celebrations of our community in 2014 with you. So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!

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

Dan Starnes Keith McCoy Jennifer Gray Madoline Markham Jeff Thompson Katie Turpen Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Michelle Salem Haynes Contributing Writers : Kari Kampakis Holley Wesley Interns : Sydney Cromwell Lauren Moriarty Published by : 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 Jr. High Contributing Photographer: Image Arts Contact Information: Village Living #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 Dan@VillageLivingOnline.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: Jennifer@VillageLivingOnline.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

For advertising contact: Dan@VillageLivingOnline.com

Legals: Village Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Village Living is designed to inform the Mountain Brook community of area school, faith, family and community events. Information in Village Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Village Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 370-0732 or by email.

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A Little Something (A18) A Tiny Kingdom (A20) A’mano (A11) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B5) Alabama Outdoors (A7) Alabama Power (A2) Alan Sheffield (B4) Amy Smith (A22) Antiquities (A16, B11) Argent Antiques (A18) Birmingham Speech & Hearing Associates (B4) Brandino Brass (B15) Briarcliff Shop (B14) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A14, B9) Cahaba Cycles (B1) Cahaba Dermatology and Skin Care Center (A10) Canterbury Gardens (A19) Children’s of Alabama (A13) Crestline Church (B12) D1 Sports Medicine (B14) Dish’n It Out (B8) Eich Plastic Surgery (A6) Etc. (A8) Granger Thagard Associates (B13) Greystone Antiques & Marketplace (A22) Hanna’s Garden Shop (A19) Hearlab (A12) Hufham Orthodontics (A16) Isbell Jewelers (B10) Iz Cafe (A15) Jacqueline DeMarco (B13) John-William Jeweller (A20) Jordan Alexander Jewelry (B7) King’s House Oriental Rugs (B13) Kirkwood by the River (B17) Lamb’s Ears Ltd. (B5) Lane Parke - Evson Inc. (A17) Laura Kathryn (B7) Leaf & Petal (A9) Liberty Animal Hospital (B3) Little Hardware, Inc. (A21) Mitchell’s Place (A15) Mobley & Sons (B8) Monkee’s of Mountain Brook (B10) Mountain Brook Art Association (B17) Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce (B2, B6) Mountain Brook Village Merchants (B20) Nail Tek (A14) One Man’s Trash Antiques (A14) Otey’s (B11) Ray Building Company (B16) RealtySouth (A24) Red Wing Shoes (A23, B9) Renasant Bank (A3) Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk (B17) Savage’s Bakery (B12) Snoozy’s Kids (A9) Swoop (B12) Taco Mama (B15) The Cook Store (A22) The Highlands School (B4) The Maids (A1 Thimbles (B14) Village Dermatology (A5) Wallace-Burke (A23)

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013

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Chamber Real estate luncheon sells out

Save the date for Village2Village Run The annual Village2Village 10K will once again run through the hills, twists and turns of Mountain Brook neighborhoods on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 8 a.m. This year’s race will not include a fun run, but students can run at a discounted price. New this year, the race ends at Canterbury Road, where the after party will begin. Also, runners will receive a text message with their race times shortly after completing the course. Organizers encourage runners to register early. North Face dri fit shirts are guaranteed to the first 500 people to register, but more than 700 have signed up in the past. The after party will be held in Mountain Brook Village and will include a variety of prizes and food. The race will start and end in Mountain Brook Village. Race day parking will be available at the Birmingham Zoo and Birmingham Botanical Gardens. 10K entry fees are $35 in advance, $20 for students 18 and under or $40 on race day. Pre-race packets can be picked up on Friday, Jan. 24 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Birmingham Zoo. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com or active.com for more information and to register.

Holiday open houses Wilmer Poynor of Ray & Poynor, Dot Mash of LAH Real Estate and Millie Osborn of RealtySouth and all spoke on a panel on the topic of real estate at the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce’s November luncheon. Mike Royer moderated the panel. The Jimmy Hale Mission, represented by Tony Cooper, sponsored the event. Photo by Madoline Markham.

By MADOLINE MARKHAM To flesh out what the current real estate market means for buyers and sellers in Mountain Brook, the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce hosted Dot Mash

of LAH Real Estate, Millie Osborn of RealtySouth and Wilmer Poynor of Ray & Poynor at its luncheon last month. “With the home inventory down, the housing market has been much better to the seller this year,” Osborn said. “If

a home is priced competitively, it has a greater chance of being sold rather quickly. If a home has been on the market for a while, it is possible the seller bought in the upturn, paying a higher price and now cannot price the home well.”

The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce is welcoming the holiday season with its annual holiday open houses in each of the villages. Merchants will be running specials throughout each evening, allowing the whole family to enjoy businesses, boutiques and restaurants in the area. Some merchants will offer special during the day, and all will extend their normal business hours into the evening. ►► Wednesday, Dec. 4: English Village, 4-8 p.m. ►► Thursday, Dec. 5: Mountain Brook Village, 5-8 p.m. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com for more.

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City New Western Market to be part of Lane Parke By MADOLINE MARKHAM Western Supermarkets announced in late October that it will open a new Western Market in the Lane Parke development in Mountain Brook Village. The new store will expand its fresh departments to better serve the Mountain Brook community and will also feature a new look and a new name, according to a release. “Our goal from the outset has been to create a full-service upscale grocery environment that aligns with the lifestyles of our customers — the new Western Market will allow us to fulfill that goal,” said Ken Hubbard, CEO and owner of Western. The new store will feature wines in a climate-controlled cellar, a variety of freshly prepared items from the new deli and fresh-cut flowers among other features. Construction on the 28,300-squarefoot store along with the remainder of the initial phase of the development is scheduled to begin prior to year-end. Tenant openings scheduled for late spring/early summer of 2015. Construction on 276 apartment homes has already begun, and construction on the 100-room Kessler Collection Grand Bohemian Hotel are scheduled to begin in the coming months. “The level of interest in Lane Parke continues to grow with each passing day and with each new commitment,”

This image shows the Lane Parke grocery store space that Western will occupy. Image courtesy of Evson, Inc.

said Robert Jolly, president of Retail Specialists, Inc., the leasing team for Lane Parke. “As we move closer to the commencement of construction, we look forward to releasing the names of other tenants who have committed to take advantage of the unique opportunity that is Lane Parke.” Both Western and Evson, Inc., a Birmingham-based development

company owned by Rele and John Evans, feel positively about this new collaboration on Lane Parke. “We are extremely excited to be a part of Lane Parke,” Hubbard said. “This new store not only allows us to reaffirm our commitment of 53 years to serving the Mountain Brook community but will also afford us the space to deliver a superior customer

experience, expand our offering of fine wines, high quality meats, fresh produce, and prepared foods, and continue our legacy of providing exceptional service and value.” John Evans of Evson echoed the sentiment. “We are confident that this location will allow them to serve the community for the next 53 years

and further,” Evans said. “With the new developments taking place at Lane Parke, including the new apartments, The Grand Bohemian Hotel, and some of the exciting new retail and dining offerings that have yet to be announced, we believe Lane Parke is well positioned to remain a centerpiece of our daily living for years to come.” •7

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013

CRIME REPORT Week of Oct. 18-24 Theft of Property: On Oct. 18, several pieces of lawn equipment were stolen in the 100 block of Country Club Terrace. The property was taken from a utility trailer. A suspect has been identified in this case. On Oct. 18, a backpack leaf blower was stolen in the 3700 block of Jackson Boulevard. The property was stolen from a utility trailer. A suspect has been identified in this case. Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle: A UBEV case occurred in the 900 block of Sims Avenue between Oct. 22-23. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a briefcase.

Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle: A UBEV case occurred in the 2700 block of Cahaba Road between Oct. 25-26. Unknown suspect(s) broke the driver’s side window, entered the vehicle, and stole a suitcase, watch and laptop. A UBEV case occurred in the 2700 block of Cahaba Road between Oct. 25-27. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a wallet.

Week of Nov. 8-14 Burglary / Residential: A residential burglary occurred in the 3700 block of East Fairway Drive on Nov. 11. Unknown suspect(s) broke a window on the back door and entered the residence. Jewelry and foreign currency were stolen. Unlawful Breaking/Entering of a Vehicle: A UBEV case occurred in the 2200 block of Peacock Lane between Nov. 8-9. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole prescription medication. A UBEV case occurred at the intersection of Morningside Circle and Morningside Drive on Nov. 8. Unknown suspect(s) stole a leaf blower from the victim’s vehicle.

35223 and 35213 rated as ‘super zips’ By MADOLINE MARKHAM According to a recent analysis by The Washington Post, Mountain Brook’s zip codes are among the top in the country. 35213 and 33523 were the only two “super zips,” or top five percent, in Alabama to make the recent list of rankings based on income and education level from census data. 35223, the top zip code in the state, ranked in the 99 percentile, with a median household income of $133,328 and 79 percent of the population as college graduates. 35213 was in the 96 percentile, with a median household income of $94,302 and 76 percent college graduates. The 650 super zips on average have a median household income of $120,000, and seven in ten adults have college degrees. The Post also reported that a recent analysis of census data by sociologists Sean Reardon of Stanford and Kendra Bischoff of Cornell showed that middle-income neighborhoods have faded as more people live in areas that

The Washington Post’s recent analysis of the top zip codes in the country ranked 35223 and 35213 in the top 5 percent of the nation. Image from washingtonpost.com.

are either poor or affluent. In 1970, 65 percent of families lived in middle-income neighborhoods; four decades later, 42 percent did. L74 K

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Week of Oct. 25-31 Burglary / Business: A business burglary occurred in the 40 block of Church Street between Oct. 28-29. Unknown suspect(s) stole currency from the business. The method of entry has not been determined.

Week of Nov. 1-7 Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle: A UBEV case occurred in the 2300 block of Brook Manor Drive between Nov. 3-4. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a laptop, a backpack and U.S. currency. A UBEV case occurred in the 2300 block of Brook Manor Drive between Nov. 3-4. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole an iPod. A UBEV case occurred in the 50 block of Montcrest Drive on Nov. 5. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a cell phone. A UBEV case occurred in the 2700 block of U.S. 280 between Nov. 5-6. Unknown suspect(s) broke a window out of the vehicle and entered the vehicle. A guitar, a keyboard and other items were stolen.

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Alabama Power Company resumed its line-clearing project in portions of Mountain Brook beginning in early November. The project will run until the end of February. The company will be trimming and/or removing

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trees and shrubs along its utility easements. The trimming is part of Alabama Power Company’s vegetation management program. -Submitted by the City of Mountain Brook

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Village Living

Design behind the scenes Much goes into preserving aesthetics in the villages

When it was first proposed, the design for the IberiaBank building in Mountain Brook Village was similar to the company’s corporate template. Left. the Vestavia Hills IberiaBank building reflects this template, but after much work with Village Design Review, architects were able to come up with what’s currently on Cahaba Road, pictured right.

By JEFF THOMPSON On her honeymoon in Maine, Dana Hazen was looking down a commercial street when she noticed something. A structure with a style identical to the homes in the quaint town wasn’t a house at all. It was a McDonald’s. “The only thing that gave it away was a small set of golden arches on the front door,” she said. At that time, the 24 year old committed it to memory, and since then it’s served her well. As the current city planner for Mountain Brook, she’s helped create many of the protocols that protect the charm of the villages. “I’ve never forgotten that,” she said. “If a business really wants to be somewhere, they’ll do what they have to.” With every business that wishes to build in Mountain Brook, a process takes place behind the scenes. What’s first proposed is rarely what residents see on the streets. A host of people

chartered with maintaining aesthetics guide these businesses, but one of the first stops in the process is Village Design Review (VDR). VDR is a board of eight residents that advises businesses on the design of their buildings and signage. With exteriors, its role is advisory. But when it comes to signs, VDR has the final word. “The City of Mountain Brook wants to encourage people to have successful businesses,” said James Carter, a local architect and chairman of VDR. “Our goal is to make those businesses as visible as possible while still fitting in with village standards.” One of the main reasons VDR exists is to act as a liaison for corporate entities. For larger companies, “branding is a holy word,” Hazen said. “Most businesses anywhere want to shout their names to the sky because they’re excited,” she said. “So, they wrap their buildings in their logo 10 times because they believe it will attract more customers. You’ve got to have someone to

put the reins on that.” A corporation might have a visual image it wants to project, Carter said, and VDR is there to show these companies that Mountain Brook customers are interested in preserving the historical nature and pedestrian feel of the villages. For example, when it was first drafted, the IberiaBank building in Mountain Brook Village appeared as something much different than what’s currently on Cahaba Road. In fact, the design was based on a corporate template seen in other communities. “It was a nice-looking building, but it didn’t reflect the quality of the village or what people were hoping to see,” said James Carter, a local architect and chairman of VDR. The company worked through multiple designs with VDR, each time being asked to reconsider to more fit the context of the area. VDR doesn’t have authority to dictate design, so at any point the company was free to decide

to ignore VDR’s advice. Instead, the company brought in local architect Hank Long to help meet VDR’s requests. Together Long and VDR created a design to complement the look of the community. Long’s initial design came back from VDR with comments, but it only took one more meeting for the committee to approve them. Now, the bank’s buildings in Mountain Brook and Crestline Villages are regarded as welcome additions. The end result boasts a stone exterior and interior that feels more like a living room than a lobby. “In the court of public opinion, if people don’t like something it’s a hard thing to ignore,” Carter said. “We said that we wished they could do something a little more kind to the community, and they really stepped up to the plate. And I’ve received lots of positive feedback from the public.”

This December at Cathy Waterman

Trunk Show Monday December 9 - Friday December 13 Personal appearance by Cathy Waterman Tuesday December 10, 10 - 7 pm

Liz Legg

POP-UP shop Friday December 20 - Saturday December 21 Liz Legg will be in shop both days

Holiday hours: Monday thur Friday 10 - 6pm • Saturday 10 - 5pm 2726 Cahaba Road • 871-6747 • www.shopetcjewelry.com • Mon-Sat 10-5

VillageLivingOnline.com

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Education meets legislation State education issues discussed at PTO Roundtable By MADOLINE MARKHAM PTO Council representatives from Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills voiced concerns to state legislators at the PTO’s ninth annual Legislative Forum in November. Sen. Jabo Waggoner, Rep. Jim Carns, Rep. Paul DeMarco and Rep. Jack Williams responded to questions from legislative representatives from each school in Vestavia and Mountain Brook, and school superintendents Dicky Barlow of Mountain Brook and Jamie Blair of Vestavia Hills added comments where applicable. The legislators overall emphasized their desire to give local school systems control and that the state is dealing with the budgetary effects of the economy since 2008. The representatives said they will take the feedback from the event with them as they enter a new legislative session on Jan. 14, 2014. A summary of the discussion of the roundtable is listed below. Funding. Barlow voiced concern that Mountain Brook’s funding from the state has decreased by $16 million since 2008. Waggoner responded that due to the economy the state education budget has decreased from $6.7 billion in 2008 to bottom out at $5.4 billion in 2011, and this is what has affected local school systems. Budget. This year’s state education budget is trending up at $5.765 billion as the unemployment rate starts to drop, and Waggoner said that’s a good thing. Seventy percent of the state’s education budget, which is separate from the state’s general fund, is designated for K-12 education. The education budget is funded 60.75 percent by income tax and 27.17 percent by sales tax, both of which hit lows in 2009 and were followed by the BP oil spill, April 27, 2011 tornadoes and

State legislators and PTO legislative representatives gather at the Ninth Annual Legislative Forum in November.

recession weighing on the state budget. Both income and sales taxes have been on a positive trajectory more recently, and that should result in more funding for the education budget. Local funding. Barlow said that 59 percent of Mountain Brook Schools’ budget comes from local revenue, yet based on lingering effects from 2009, the system will face a $2 million deficit this year. Last year the system granted a 2 percent raise to teachers, which cost the system $1.2 million. School safety (firearms). The only new bill related to school safety, DeMarco said, is one that would provide $50-$100 million in bonds that school systems could apply for to use for further security measures. School safety (weather). A delegation from the state is in discussion with local superintendents and weather experts such as James Spann regarding what needs to be done in this regard. DeMarco said that he hopes recommendations will come out of these discussions. Alabama Accountability Act. “It was very controversial, but we had to do something to give kids in failing schools the opportunity to get out,” Waggoner said, noting that they ensured students who choose to move away from failing

schools must stay within their school district. As a result of the law’s passage, thus far 52 students have enrolled in private schools and about 750 in public schools. Common Core. The state board of education is currently meeting to discuss a new set of Common Core Standards. DeMarco emphasized that he wants to make sure local schools have control over their curriculum. Carns said he has received about 30 emails since school started from parents who voiced concerns about what they have read about Common Core from literature distributed to students. Carns said he thought it would come to a vote this year, while Waggoner said he doesn’t think it will make it to the Senate floor because during an election year session fewer bills, especially fewer controversial bills, enter the process. Both school superintendents voiced their support for the new Common Core. “They are standards, they are not curriculum,” Barlow said. “Our teachers like the standards and believe they have more depth than the previous ones. In our community, I think students look at the college or university they want to go to and base their class choices on that.”

Calendar. After two years of the statemandated school calendar that required school start later in August than it had previously, school systems will have the freedom to choose their own calendars next year. DeMarco noted that the legislature voted down extending the original legislation more than two years. Distribution of wealth. Carns said there is always discussion in the legislature about a supposed bias against school systems with less funding. He pointed out that in his 12 years in the legislature, there have been 12 local votes for an increase in property tax for school funding, and three quarters of them were voted down — all in school districts that already had low funding. “I don’t see that changing,” Carns said. “The reason school systems are better is because of local support. I have been seeing ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’ for years. We are not going to let it happen.” The Legislative Roundtable was hosted by Tricia Golden, Mountain Brook High PTO president, and Jennifer McMahon, Vestavia Hills High PTO president, and moderated by PTO legislative representatives Katherine Taylor of Vestavia Hills and Tzena Gauldin of Mountain Brook.

A10 • December 2013

Village Living

280 traffic What You Said

Village Living polled 102 Mountain Brook residents about their thoughts on how U.S. 280 traffic is flowing now that ALDOT’s intersection improvements have been completed. Overall, the feedback shows traffic is moving faster, but there is a split in opinions regarding how it affects each intersection.

How You Rated Traffic Flow Before and After Improvements Rush Hours

Off Peak Times

60 50 40

Unsatisfied

“Traffic does move faster, but when you need to turn off of 280, you have to be ready to understand the changes. Overall it is much better.”

“I avoid 280 completely. I even tell businesses on 280 that I will no longer be able to shop there because I can no longer safely and easily access 280.”

“I drive from the Mountain Brook Village area to I-459 multiple times per week. The changes have cut five minutes off my drive. I think it’s great. The only problem is coming back on 280 westbound. The Whole Foods intersection causes back ups almost to Dolly Ridge in the afternoons. Otherwise, it’s a huge improvement. Thanks for putting up with all the criticism. People don’t like change, especially in their neighborhood.”

“My travel time has increased by at least five minutes as I live off Overton, and the Overton turn signal wait times are too long.”

“It is significantly better than before. I make a lot of business-related trips during the workday to the south 280 corridor, and these changes have greatly improved my efficiency.”

30 20

“Getting to The Summit from Mountain Brook Village area is so much better and quicker!”

10 0

Satisfied

“I have intentionally traveled down 280 (east) at 5 p.m. when before I would have changed plans.”

1 being worst, 5 being best

2 Before

3 After

“Overall it is very positive. I live in Brookwood Forest and have found that traffic is moving much faster.”

“I stayed away from 280 most of the time anyway and will certainly continue to do so! Their changes have caused some seriously dangerous traffic problems!” “Rather than risk my life, I’m choosing to find alternate routes or alternate destinations than the stores along 280. I will not put my life at risk. I have also noticed that people are driving very fast on 280. People on average are going 65 instead of 45.” “I’m dismayed by the increase of traffic on local, neighborhood roads as a result of these changes. I would imagine that the wear and tear on Mountain Brook local roads would be increased due to commuter traffic.” “Rush hour is still terrible. The light changes have shifted traffic problems, but not alleviated them.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013

• A11

What you think How You Rate Satisfaction by Intersection Cherokee Road 47% satisﬁed

Mountain Brook Village

“Crossing five lanes of traffic is nerve-wracking and frightening! And again, there is I a light there stopping traffic, so this dangerous new route saves a whopping 12 seconds every 3 minutes.”

“I would like changes so people aren’t making illegal left turns out of Wendy’s shopping center onto 280...scary.”

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280

All comments are from different individuals who completed a survey on villagelivingonline.com.

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Lakeshore Merge Lane 85.1% satisﬁed

“U-turning into on-coming Overton traffic is unnerving and unsafe.”

“I often wait at the red light on 280 when turning onto Overton Road. When there is no traffic coming, I am not able to turn left. I must wait at the light when I could have turned left before the light.”

“I live off Overton. I have literally seen one car make it through the light before it turned yellow. This adds so much more time to my drive from Mountain Brook Elementary. There was not a need for a light at Overton, period.”

“I’m sure it is annoying for homeowners on either side, but eliminating that light really did help! (And having to U-turn just down the road isn’t too much of an inconvenience.)”

Green Valley Road/Cahaba Village

“This was much needed. Now people do not have to try to immediately merge onto 280 from Lakeshore Drive.”

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Green Valley Rd

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“If people would get a clue and use it and not plow over like their lane is ending, maybe with signage like ‘you don’t have to merge right away,’ it might be helpful. I see lots of out-oftown, out-of-state tags, and elderly [persons] driving in rush hour are a major part of the problem. And oh, those text-and-driving-oblivious people are a problem, too.”

65.6% satisﬁed

“I can’t see that it hurts or helps 280 traffic. It just inconveniences Office Park workers and passers through.”

50% satisﬁed

63.3% satisﬁed

“This didn’t affect me at all.”

Overton Road

h es ak

Ofﬁce Park “I’ve noticed no difference at this light. I don’t see how eliminating one 15-second access point makes any difference — oh wait, it hasn’t!”

“It’s great that the outbound traffic doesn’t have to stop on that steep hill and slowly start up again.”

“It doesn’t bother me quite as S into much because I typically 28th Avego Mountain Brook Plaza the back way. The last time I was there,31 though, it seemed as if business was way down.”

“I have friends on the [Birmingham] Water Works side of Cherokee, and you cannot get to their houses easily anymore. It’s truly a pain to get there. They should not allow people to turn left onto Cherokee from 280 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. That’s where a lot of the traffic starts.”

Ch er ok ee

“It is not ideal, but if you have to reach middle ground on the entire proposal, I would say that losing that one lightRosed has ale hadDr minimal impact.”

55.1% satisﬁed

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Mountain Brook Plaza

Cahaba Heights Rd

“When traffic flow isn’t heavy, it’s okay. I haven’t driven it at rush hour. I would imagine that could be awful.” “My teenage driver may be my age before I allow him to get on 280 eastbound at this intersection.” “Perhaps it would work if drivers used it as intended. Instead, it makes merging difficult and rushed.”

December 2013

Village Living

Mountain Brook Business Happenings

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Now Open Little Lavender, previously an online consignment shop with occasional in-person sales, now has a retail storefront at 81 Church St., Suite 102, in Crestline Village. It specializes in overstock, trunk show samples and gently worn boutique items. Hours are MondayFriday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. littlelavender.com.

Tonya Jones SalonSpa has opened its second location in the former Richard Joseph SalonSpa space in English Village, located at 2410 Fairway Drive. 870-4247. tonyajonessalonspa.com.

John-William Jeweller is now open at 81 Church Street in Crestline Village. The store is owned by John and William Bromberg. 870-4367.

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VillageLivingOnline.com

Coming Soon Brick & Tin is currently undergoing renovations at its new restaurant space at 2901 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook Village. Owner Mauricio Papapietro said the location plans to open in mid-late January. brickandtin.com.

Relocations and Renovations Wedding planning studio Mariée Ami has moved from Canterbury Road to 2814 Petticoat Lane above Paige Albright Orientals. 870-4205. marieeami.com.

Otey’s Tavern, 224 Country Club Park, has installed a new set of garage doors opening up to its patio. 871-8435. oteystavern.com.

Holiday Open Houses Antiquities, 2421 Canterbury Road, will hold an open house Thursday, Dec. 5 that will feature potter Ginger Baker and painter Donna Garner. 870-1030.

Events Urban Cookhouse, 212 Country Club Park in Crestline, is hosting a Cornerstone Christmas event on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 6-9 p.m. The event will feature live music and menu tastings. All proceeds will directly go to Cornerstone Schools of Alabama, which is located in Woodlawn. Tickets, $20 for adults or $5 for kids kindergarten through 12th grade, will be sold at the door. 803-3535. urbancookhouse.com.

December 2013 • A13

News and Accomplishments Through the end of December, The Fitness Center, 3900 Montclair Road, Suite 210, above the Crestline post office, is collecting items for the Kids Connection, a ministry of Dawson Family of Faith that serves local children. Items needed include athletic shoes, jackets, coats, hoodies and scarves, as well as used shoes, toys, books, sports equipment and baby items. 870-1121. thefitnesscenter.org.

Hirings and Promotions The Birmingham Botanical Gardens has hired a new director of development, Jean Frey. She previously worked for the Florida State University Foundation and served as CEO and campaign director of The Florida Center, a start-up nonprofit and public-private partnership. Frey will begin work on The Gardens’ 50th anniversary celebration that starts this month. 414-3950. bbgardens.com.

McGowin-King Mortgage, 2 Office Park Circle, Suite 103, has hired Fred Esslinger as a loan officer. The company specializes in traditional and reverse mortgages, and Esslinger will work on the traditional mortgage side of the business. 879-7775. mcgowinking.com.

Anniversaries Pilates Place, 3918 Montclair Road, Suite 207, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. The studio offers Pilates mat and equipment classes by certified instructors. 870-4901. pilatesplacebham.com.

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

Lane Park Rd

A14 • December 2013

Business Spotlight

Marguerite’s Conceits

Village Living

Read past Business Spotlights at villagelivingonline.com

MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLAGE

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2406 Canterbury Road Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 879-2730

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By INTISAR SERAAJ-SABREE Marguerite Ray has always had a passion for conceits, the Victorian term for “fanciful objects.” She loves any chance she gets to use her interior design degree, and going the extra mile to do so has been essential to her identity. For the past 20 years she has owned Marguerite’s Conceits, a name perfectly describing the items Ray wanted to sell. Plus, it rhymes. Marguerite’s Conceits is known for carrying high-end linens such as Bella Notte, Matouk, Ann Gish, Utility Canvas and Serena and Lily. Beyond fine linens, the boutique also sells baby gifts, luggage, neighborhood candles (named after greater Birmingham’s neighborhoods), kitchen soaps, picture frames and more. Her product selection is based on years cultivating taste in interiors. After graduating from Samford University in 1986, Ray worked a string of jobs where she repeatedly moved up from part-time drafter to manager. Her father, Peter Bolvig, told her that she should own her own business if she was going to work so hard. “I’m somewhat of a workaholic,” said Ray, a resident of English Village.

(left) Marguerite Ray owns Marguerite’s Conceits in Mountain Brook Village. (above) The store carries a variety of “fanciful objects,” or conceits.

In 1991, Ray opened Table Matters with a partner and began selling highend tabletop décor. Two years later, she sold her share of the business and opened her own boutique. Although Marguerite’s sells luxury items, Ray also tries to provide midrange products. “It’s hard to compete with the

Internet, the superstores and the discounted websites,” Ray said. “Offering really good customer service is what’s keeping our customers coming back.” Ray’s service goes beyond giftwrapping and a friendly face greeting you at the door. Upon request, some customers receive free “house calls,”

where Ray visits their home and advises on the type of bedding and other accessories that would best accentuate rooms. She relishes the opportunity to pick out lavish and designer pajamas, bubble bath soaps, lotion, candles and more to create a relaxing and luxurious living environment. From

the moment therapeutic aromas hit your nose to the moment an employee beautifully wraps your purchase, Marguerite’s Conceits is designed to create a happy and homey atmosphere. Ray admits that almost everything in the store is “fluff,” but guarantees that it brings happiness.

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013 • A15

Restaurant Showcase

Read past Restaurant Showcases at villagelivingonline.com

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By LAUREN MORIARTY Chocolate makes everything better. That is what one of the original Church Street bakers reasoned when she was planning on breaking up with her boyfriend, so she whipped up a batch of her chocolate chip cookies to sweeten the news. Six years later, the infamous Breakup Cookie has a cult following in the Mountain Brook community. Coffee shop owners Carrie Rollwagen and Cal Morris always envisioned opening a coffee and book shop that offered locals a place to congregate in Crestline Village. Both Morris and Rollwagen attended Samford University and went on to work in Mountain Brook. Morris managed the Starbucks formerly located in Church Street Coffee and Books’ location for eight years, getting to know the local community and their caffeine habits well. Rollwagen handled the book side of Jonathan Benton, Bookseller, formerly located in Crestline. When the Starbucks space became available, they jumped at the opportunity, and Church Street Coffee and Books became a reality. Church Street sells a wide variety of sweet treats healthier than you might think. Heather Morris, Cal Morris’ wife and the brains behind the popular bakery items, strives to use only natural ingredients in her recipes that include gluten-free and vegan options. The Morris’ personal philosophy of eating healthy is something they emphasis both at home and in the bakery. Church Street’s coffee comes from Octane, a coffee company located in Homewood and

Owners Carrie Rollwagen and Cal Morris with favorites from the book selection. Photo courtesy of Carrie Rollwagen.

Atlanta. Selling Octane coffee is part of Morris’ business plan that incorporates local ingredients and supports fellow Crestline businesses. “We believe if you can buy local, you should do it as much as possible,” he said. Morris and Rollwagen do more than just

buy local. In September, Carrie organized a Shop Small Social neighborhood event offering discounts to local businesses Ivory and White, Laura Kathryn, A’Mano, The Pantry and Church Street. The event was successful, and Rollwagen hopes to continue

81 Church Street 870-1117 Churchstreetshop.com Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

similar events in the future. Church Street is a quintessential neighborhood coffee shop. Welcoming baristas and comfortable seating create an atmosphere that lends itself to picking up a book and curling up with a cup of coffee. Fortunately, there is a handpicked, rotating selection available for purchase. Rollwagen employs her knack for knowing what customers want to read when ordering the shop’s books for children and adults. “I try to put myself in the place of our customers and think about what they’d like to be reading. Then I research those subjects and reach out to the book reviewers and publishers I know to try to find the best of what’s available,” she said. Customers can now place book orders by texting the store. The book will arrive a day or two later, and you can either pick it up or opt for their new free delivery service to the Mountain Brook community. “I think it’ll be especially great around the holidays, since you’ll be able to just text or email us your order and we can process it, wrap them and deliver them to your doorstep,” Rollwagen said. Book lovers are also welcome to join one of Church Street’s book clubs. The meet-ups offer locals a chance to connect over a great book and cup of coffee. Whether it be host of a formal club meeting or just a morning caffeine pick-me-up, Morris is happy to be a hub for the Crestline community. “We’re in the business of people. We just happen to sell really good coffee, pastries and quality books,” he said.

A16 • December 2013

Village Living

School House Fall Festival time at Crestline Elementary By LISA STONE

Second-grade Crestline teachers dressed up for the Fall Festival costume contest.

In October, Crestline PTO hosted its annual Fall Festival to raise money, most of which is used to support Celebrate Writing week in February. The day of Fall Festival, children went to school dressed in costumes and were dismissed early to enjoy rides, games and a haunted house. This year, Principal Laurie King held a contest to see which department of teachers and/or staff

members dressed in the best costumes. This brought out the creativity of the Crestline staff and a friendly rivalry between grade levels and departments. There was a three-way tie for first place between the special education staff, who dressed as the solar system and decorated their hallway as the night sky; the second-grade teachers, who dressed as elderly ladies; and the third-grade teachers, who came as a wedding party and served cake and punch in their hallway.

Back to colonial times By CATHERINE BODNAR Fifth-grade classes at Cherokee Bend Elementary participated in their fourth year of the Colonial Fair in October. Students looked at the government, economy, trade and geography during colonization after the Age of Exploration and the founding of the New World. They were asked to create a colonial profile and were then grouped into families based on their occupation. The culmination of their studies resulted in the Colonial Fair. Wearing traditional colonial clothing, students traveled through five stations with their “family groups” to experience colonial life. The stations included lantern making, candle making, first aid, colonial games and quilting. Each student took home the things they made that day.

Mary Winston Hendry, Jane Ryland Elliott, Mary Carlisle Jones, Riley Brown and Ella Katherine Parker.

Voted

BEST OF MOUNTAIN BROOK Village Living neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook

2013

Best Orthodontist

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013 • A17

MBE honors veterans

MBE students Ann Carlton Keller, Henry Phillips and Walker Phillips honor veterans Richard Keller (Air Force), former Mountain Brook Mayor William W. Matthews IV (Navy), current Mayor Terry Oden (Army) and Frederick W. Murray Jr. (Coast Guard) in celebration of Veteran’s Day at MBE.

By HILARY ROSS Fifth grade students at Mountain Brook Elementary recently performed their annual musical program in appreciation and celebration of the dedication and sacrifice made by our veterans. The salute to veterans included approximately 30 honored guests from every branch of United States military service. Following a slide presentation, flags representing these branches as well as the State of Alabama and the United States

were installed by the fifth grade Color Guard. Led by music teacher Shari Dorsett, the audience enjoyed songs about our country, patriotism and American pride. The show concluded with veterans in attendance coming to the stage when the theme song for the branch of service in which they served was played. Students then placed a flag pin on their honored veteran as the program closed with “Taps” to remember those who died during service for our country.

MBJH Builders Club tutors children

MBJH Builders Club members Sarah Coleman Causey, Marley Barnett and Sarah Chitty with their YMCA friends.

By ELIZABETH FARRAR The Builders Club is a service club that offers MBJH students opportunities to serve the Birmingham community as a group. This

fall Builders Club volunteers began working together to tutor children from the YMCA after-school program. MBJH students help elementary students complete homework and master reading and math skills.

Halloween dress-up at CBS

Kindergarten teacher Mary Elizabeth Allen, center, poses with two of her students, Clarkie Wilkinson and Mary Hadley Adams.

By CATHERINE GASQUE Halloween typically gets underway with trick-or-treating at sundown, but not at Cherokee Bend Elementary! The kindergarten classes were not the only

group to don their Halloween costumes this year, as principal Betsy Bell allowed all students and faculty the option of wearing their ghoulish garb to school. The halls were crawling with ninjas, superheroes, witches and princesses enjoying the excitement of All Hallows’ Eve.

A18 • December 2013

Village Living

New library unveiled at junior high school

Giving drugs the boot

Anne Peyton Baker, Mary Frances Colley, Catherine Kinney, Mary Fran Wright and Paul Roth. Photo courtesy of the American Cancer Society.

Students recognized for support of the American Cancer Society First graders Campbell Brewer, Virginia Poe and Margaret Anne Abele.

By LISA STONE In October, Crestline Elementary hosted Red Ribbon Week to teach children that “a healthy me is drug free.” Speakers talked to children about the risks of alcohol and drug use, and kids had the opportunity to sign posters to pledge to make smart choices for healthy minds and bodies. This program featured games, competitions and theme days such as “Cougars Care About Good Health” when the kids wore Cougar or Spartan colors, “Give Drugs the Boot” when they wore boots and western outfits, “Choose to Be Healthy Inside & Out” when clothes were worn insideout, and “Choose Heart Healthy” when the kids sported all red clothing and accessories.

American Cancer Society leaders Kelly Doss and Samantha Taylor attended the October rivalry football game between Mountain Brook and Vestavia high schools to present awards to student leaders, advisors and principals of each school. The awards recognized the schools’ service and dedication to help end the fight against cancer through their successful Relay For Life fundraising events held earlier this year. Both schools participate in Relay For Life every year and have consistently exceeded their goals. In 2013, the schools contributed almost $500,000 to the fight for less cancer and more birthdays. “For several years in a row, Mountain Brook and Vestavia have been recognized nationally for their successful events and have set a standard that we are trying to replicate across the country,” said Kelly Doss, executive vice president for the American Cancer Society.

The Mountain Brook and Vestavia Relay For Life events were both named a Top-5 Youth Event in the country this year, raising a collective $468,000 for the American Cancer Society. The Mountain Brook event is ranked second nationally and is the No. 1 per capita youth event in the country. Mountain Brook High School Principal Amanda Hood and Vestavia High School Principal Wes Gordon were recognized for their support along with student leaders Anne Peyton Baker, Catherine Kinney, Mary Fran Wright, Paul Roth and Katie Reiss from Mountain Brook and Chandler Cahoon, Joe Peterson, Brooke Westhoven and John David Walker from Vestavia. Also recognized were faculty advisors from each school, Angie Richardson from Vestavia High School and William Kornegay, former advisor, and current advisors Katrina McGuire and Jackie Hayes from Mountain Brook High School.

Junior Spartan PTO President Crawford Bumgarner, MBJH Librarian Susan Zana and Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent Dicky Barlow pose at the opening of the newly renovated MBJH library this fall. The new space features new furnishings and media scapes as well as teacher workspaces and student study areas and lounges.

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013 • A19

MBJH cross-country wins Metro Championships By ELIZABETH FARRAR Head coach Mike Abercrombie and assistant coaches Amelia Breeze, John Phillips, Trish Carey, Kelli Moore and Chris Cence trained more than 150 seventhand eighth-grade cross country athletes, preparing the students to compete in regional meets in September and October. Captains named for the 2013 season were John Galloway, Mary Allison Anderson, Hunter Harwell and Anna Littleton. The teams’ season culminated in the Metro South Cross Country Championship at Spain Park High School. The MBJH girls team won, scoring 62 points fewer than the second-place Liberty Park team. Twelve girls qualified for the All-Metro team: Mary Allison Anderson, Katie Baird, Anna Balzli, Lamar Campbell, Margaret Dodson, Caroline Knight, Sophie Jane Knott, Anna Littleton, Bailey Peacock, Annika Siddall, Mary Douglas Turner and Natalie Womack. The MBJH boys also finished in first

Front row: Katie Baird, Mary Allison Anderson, Natalie Womack, Bailey Peacock, Caroline Knight, Annika Siddall, Sophie Jane Knott, Margaret Dodson, Lamar Campbell, Anna Littleton. Back row: Lyons Shaffer, Jack Wedge, Jackson Sharmon, Bascombe Traywick, Harrison Clark, Will Fischer, John Galloway, Walton Beddell, James Riley. Not pictured: Anna Bazli, Mary Grace Turner, Hunter Harwell.

place, 39 points ahead of Homewood. John Galloway had a strong race, finishing in first place with a time of 11:03. Boys making the All-Metro team for Mountain Brook are Walton Beddell, Harrison Clark, Will Fischer, John Galloway, Hunter Harwell, James Riley, Lyons

Shaffer, Jackson Sharman, Bascombe Traywick and Jack Wedge. Bailey Peacock and Jack Wedge were named Most Valuable Runners at the year-end banquet. The Thuston-Carey Award went to Justin Brouillette, while Coaches’ Awards were

presented to Katie Baird, Anna Balzli, Walton Bedell, Lamar Campbell, Parker Carns, Harrison Clark, Michael Creel, Margaret Dodson, Caroline Knight, Margot Naff, James Riley, Jackson Sharman, Chris Thagard and Natalie Womack.

Boosterthon fun at BWF By KATHLEEN WOODRY Students ran the 1-mile Fun Run with the support of teachers, staff, family and friends in October at Brookwood Forest Elementary. Boosterthon is a fundraising campaign centered around

students. It encompasses fitness, leadership and character-building together and culminates with a Fun Run. This year, proceeds raised from the BWF Boosterthon campaign went towards improvements in the BWF library.

Megan Lee, Caitlyn Burrus, Grace Green, Caroline Robinson, Helen Dorough, Madison Weaver and Abby Maziarz.

A20 • December 2013

Village Living

Sports

Girls cross country takes 11th consecutive state championship M

ountain Brook girls cross country took the 6A state title for the 11th consecutive year at the state meet in November. Jessica Molloy placed second individually at 18:11, and Frances Patrick placed eighth at 18:52.60. The Spartan boys placed fourth in the state meet, missing third by only one point. The teams are coached by Greg Echols, Michael McGovern, Randy Stephens and Mike Abercrombie. Girls state championship team members are: Mary Allison Anderson, Anna Balzli, Emily Bedell, Parker Cobbs, Ann Chapman Haynes, Anna Littleton, Ana McArdle, Jessica Molloy, Anna Grace Morgan, Frances Patrick, Bailey Peacock and Brantley Sanders. Boys team members are: Michael Clark, David Creel, William Dodson, Russell Galloway, Stewart Hawk, Spencer Hinson, Davis Kelly, Duncan Manley, Griffin Riley, Alex Schultz, Marshall Smith and Drew Williams. The MBHS cross country teams gather for a photo after the girls’ state championship finish.

www.JOHNWILLIAMJEWELLER.COM

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013 • A21

Gymnastics team wins first place 871-4616

Mountain Brook Gymnastics Level 5 first-place winners.

Mountain Brook Gymnastics (MBG) recently hosted its compulsory home meet with a new theme. The Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Invitational included more than 400 gymnasts from around the state.

At the meet, the gym’s Level 5 contestants placed first. MBG currently boasts an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, ranging in age from two year olds to teenagers.

Volleyball competes in State Semifinals

J.A. HENCKELS KNIVES

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Mountain Brook’s volleyball team sports their State Elite 8 shirts at the Alabama High School Athletic Association finals game.

The Mountain Brook High School volleyball team qualified for the State Finals this season. It was their first time since 1997 to qualify for the Elite 8 and first time ever to win the North Super Regional. Mountain Brook, the no. 1 seed from the North, took on No. 4 seed from the South, Baker High from Mobile, in the Elite 8 State Finals at the Crossplex in Birmingham at the

old State Fairgrounds. Nine busloads, or about 490 students, from the high school and close to 280 from the Junior High attended the game and sported pink Spartan T-shirts printed by Mountain Brook Sporting Goods. The team won that game and went on to play Huntsville in the semifinals later in that day, losing in a nail-biting game, 25-15, 25-19, 25-23.

Jackson signs with Rutgers

Tatum Jackson poses with her brother, Yates, and parents, Amy and Steve, at her signing with Rutgers on Nov. 13. Photo courtesy of Amy Jackson.

Mountain Brook High School senior Tatum Jackson has signed to play golf at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Tatum has played competitively since she was 10 and now looks forward to playing in the Big Ten Conference. In May she was the team’s lowest scoring golfer in the Alabama 6A state championship, helping Mountain Brook claim the state title

for the third year in a row. She is currently ranked 62nd nationally in the class of 2014. Scholastically, Tatum scored a 34 on the ACT and has maintained a 4.34 GPA. She was recently was named an HP Alabama Junior Golf Association Scholastic Junior AllAmerican. Tatum is the daughter of Amy and Steve Jackson.

A22 • December 2013

Village Living

Get to know Luke Bloodworth

MBHS Rock Climbing Club Founder By SUZANNE MILLIGAN We talked with Luke Bloodworth, a senior at Mountain Brook High School, about his role as the founder of the school’s rock climbing club.

Q A

What motivated you to start a rock climbing club? A lot of the clubs at the high school sporadically have functions leading up to homecoming. Once they have created a homecoming float and homecoming has come and gone, most of the clubs become essentially nonexistent. I wanted to offer a club to the student body whose sole purpose was not for just creating a homecoming float but instead giving them a club where they could also learn new skills and discover a unique extracurricular activity that many have never explored.

Q A

What else can you tell us about the club? I have been able to acquire the endorsement of an American Climbing company and have them print the logo I designed for the club shirt on their high-quality climbing shirts. We are also the first club in Mountain Brook history to have a homecoming float during our probationary year. We were able to convince the student government to lobby an amendment of the rules to the administration. The SGA representative that really helped us get this done was Ben Jackson, our SGA president.

Q A

How is your rock climbing club associated with Mountain Brook High School? It is a school club, so when we climb as a group, we have a teacher sponsor present.

Q A

How many members does your group have? We are still growing, but as of this moment in time we have around 132 members.

Q A

Does First Avenue Rocks give you any special deals? Yes, they give us a discount. Anyone that is a member can purchase a $10 pass, whereas a normal day pass costs $16.

Q A

What other activities are you involved in at the high school? Swimming and the rock climbing club take up the majority of my time. As for outside of the high school, I work at the climbing gym we climb at [First Avenue Rocks], and I do CrossFit.

What is your favorite class this year? AP Biology taught by Mrs. [Misty] King.

Q A

Once you graduate from Mountain Brook High School, what are your plans? I haven’t completely planned out the next few years, as I am uncertain as to which college or university I will attend. I have thought about trying to attend Washington and Lee, as well as Richmond or Auburn. I also have thought about the possibility of enrolling into ROTC, as I wish to somehow serve my country, but the one thing I know for certain is that I hope to be successful in following the pre-medicine track and hopefully end up in medical school.

Mountain Brook High School senior Luke Bloodworth.

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The day the cow got loose

December 2013 • A23

Nativity from page A1

By HOYT R. WILSON A Living Nativity memory Amid snarled traffic and horn blowing, people stood beside their cars and laughed. The scene set the stage for record attendance at our first Christmas pageant in 1963. Mountain Brook Baptist wanted to stage a living nativity as a Christmas gift to our community. Our associate deacons constructed a stable and filled it with sheep, a donkey and a cow. They enlisted brightly robed wise men, shepherds, angels and main actors to recreate with music and narration the ageless story of the birth of Christ. Other animals seemed OK, but the cow was not too happy. She continued to moo and kick her stable stall then was ignored after she was fed. The cow, however, continued in distress. One hour later, a frantic phone call to the church office reported a cow wandering around the busy intersection in front of Crestline School. Bryant Strain, our associate pastor fresh out of seminary, was dispatched to the scene. After several attempts, Strain was able to tie a rope around the cow’s neck and tried to lead it back to the stable. She wouldn’t move. Then he tried to lead her up a ramp into a pickup truck that was passing by. Things got worse! The cow stepped on the truck driver’s foot and sent him to the hospital. By now, the crowd was cheering for the cow. Using his recent training in theological problem solving, Strain called the farmer who owned the cow and discovered that the cow was carried off without her young calf. Now it all made sense. Momma cow wanted to get to her baby. The whole affair was solved when cow and calf were reunited, and both had starring roles in the Christmas pageant. The story of the escaped cow spread quickly through the community, which guaranteed a record attendance for the pageant. Our church became known as, “Oh, that’s the church with the animals at Christmas.” No more escaped animals, but even now we attempt to share the good news of Christmas in every way possible!

Mountain Brook Baptist Church Living Nativity Dec. 21-23 • 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. “It’s booming, very deep. People ask if we would ever redo the tape, but it wouldn’t be the same without his voice.” Nelson’s voice was re-recorded 10 years ago to make the sound more clear, but even its music is original since the original sheet music couldn’t be located those many decades later. Not much else has changed about the production over the years, either. There have been live animals since the start, but now they come from a petting zoo

in Springville that delivers and takes them home each night. A few years ago, a camel was added to the mix. The biggest change to the production came in 2002 when the church built a new education wing onto its building. Plans for the location of the new space happened to be on the hill where the nativity had always taken place. “When we went to the City Council to add onto the building, neighbors said they wanted to make sure we still had the

nativity,” Willis said. With popular demand from the community, for the past decade it has been held in the church’s lower parking lot instead, where there is not a built-in hill to create the illusion of flying angels. But they still sing from on high. This year’s Living Nativity will be held Dec. 21-23 at 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. each night in the lower parking lot at the church. As always, hot chocolate, cider and cookies will be served.

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Village Living

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Village Living

Holiday Parade returns to

Mountain Brook T

he streets in Mountain Brook Village will fill with smiling faces on Sunday, Dec. 8, as the annual Mountain Brook Holiday Parade rolls, walks and dances through town. Scheduled to start at 3 p.m., the parade will feature holiday floats and hundreds of elves, belles and cub scouts passing out candy and beaded necklaces. The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce will provide live entertainment for the thousands of residents sure to come out for the Christmas tradition. Following the parade, Santa Claus is

scheduled to arrive atop a Mountain Brook Fire Department engine and pose for pictures with joyful children and their parents. The parade follows a route through Mountain Brook Village on Cahaba Road, Culver Road and Petticoat Lane. All roads into Mountain Brook Village will be closed at 2:45 p.m. and will not open until the parade is completed about an hour later. While the parade is in progress, no vehicles will be allowed to move through or leave Mountain Brook Village. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; From staff reports

Dancers, belles, Santa and more will parade through Mountain Brook Village on Dec. 8. Photos by Jeff Thompson.

December Community B2 Gift Guide B10 Faith B14 Calendar B17

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B2 A26 • December 2013

Village Living

Community

Holiday House Tour to benefit summer learning In its 64th year, the Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC) Holiday House Tour has long been part of Birmingham’s holiday festivities. This year, five homes will be featured in addition to the historic church. Stunning architecture, elegant decor and striking style have always graced the tour, but have you ever wondered about the tour’s mission other than its aesthetics? Tickets include access to all five tour homes plus the church and also help fund the Summer Learning Program (SLP) at the Children’s Fresh Air Farm, a mission for IPC since its inception in 1923. The Summer Learning Program costs $150,000 and uses the funds to addresses challenges faced by disadvantaged children, including summer learning loss and nutritional deficiencies. The program nurtures approximately 80 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders with a mixture of academics, enrichment, physical education and spiritual development. SLP campers are living in poverty. For six weeks during the summer, certified teachers give academic instruction in the morning, and supervise children as they rotate through enrichment activities in the afternoon. Each day of the program, children are provided transportation from their neighborhoods and given two meals and a snack. “The children we are serving, all living in poverty, are at a very real risk of losing grade level skills during the summer. So, by the time they get to high school, they could be three grade levels behind,” said Gini Williams, director of the program. “Standardized tests from our program show that the average gain was three

Christmas at Arlington

Pictured are three generations of the Mudd family who lived at Arlington: Betsy Jordan Simmons, Katherine Simmons Berdy and Margarette Elizabeth Berdy.

IPC Holiday House Tour Dec. 14, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 15, 1-5 p.m. $20 ipc-usa.org months progress in grade-level skills of math and reading. Considering that typical summer learning loss is one to two months, these students will enter the fall term far ahead of where they would have been without the program.” In order to further this cause, the house tour will feature the following locations: ►► IPC Sanctuary and Parlor, 3100 Highland Avenue

Jennifer Cope, Margaret Shuttlesworth and Kathy Thomson are chairmen of the 64th IPC Holiday House Tour.

►► Louise and John Beard, 2820 Stratford Road ►► Maggie and Will Brooke, 2500 Lanark Road ►► Rita and James Dixon, 11 Clarendon Road ►► Vicki and Marvin Perry, 1621 Lanark Place ►► Staci and Ben Thompson, 2701 Argyle Road Tickets, $20, go on sale beginning Dec. 1 and can be purchased by calling the church at 9331830, visiting ipc-usa.org or by stopping by the church reception desk during business hours. Tickets may also be purchased at the homes and at the church during the tour. Shuttle parking for the homes in the English Village area will be available at the Junior League of Birmingham building located at 2212 20th Ave. South.

This year’s Christmas at the historical Arlington House will begin Friday night, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. That night the Mudd family, who were the first to live in the antebellum home, will be present to greet the guests and tell about their lives in the 1840s. The great-great-greatgranddaughter of Judge Mudd will play the part of one of the early brides of Arlington. The evening will begin with the hanging of the green upon the front door by Mayor William Bell. Hors d’oeuveres and refreshments will be served. The cost is $20 at the door. The rooms of the house will be decorated in the manner of past Christmases. The house will be opened from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Cookies and punch, Santa Claus and musical entertainment will take place with the Birmingham Belles as hostesses along with the members of the Arlington Historical Association. Admission is free for the weekend events and open to the public.

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Holiday home tour returns The Samford University Legacy League will hold its third annual Christmas Home Tour on Thursday, Dec. 12. The 2013 tour features five homes in Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook, and proceeds help provide scholarships to Samford University for deserving students with financial needs. Phyllis and Roye Tinsley’s home at 2800 Overhill Road in Mountain Brook was built in 1947 by Donald and Mary Alice Beatty, who were pioneers in the aviation field. Today the home is known for the dome added during renovations and for its gallery-like art collection. The four homes in Vestavia are conveniently located near each other. 2604 Vesclub Circle is the country English home of Redonda and Lowell Broom and is full of antiques and old pieces that have been “picked up here and there” during the Brooms’ travels. Janet and Jarry Taylor’s home at 237 Monterey Place is known for a collection of metal goats that occupy the yard and participate in seasonal decorations. The Taylors also proudly display the Congressional Medal of Honor, of which Janet’s father, a Marine four-star general, was a recipient. Practically around the corner from the Taylor home, Danielle and Bart Yancey at 2312 Shades Crest Road rebuilt about two years ago and decorated it with European styling with rustic and organic elements. It includes lots of wood and iron pieces that visitors will find interesting. The final home is the residence of Legacy League’s executive director and Samford’s president, Jeanna and Andy Westmoreland, located at 1994 Shades Crest Road. The Samford President’s home is known for its magnificent view of the Samford campus and also for Jeanna’s collection of nutcrackers, which are always on display at Christmas. Holiday hors d’oeuvres prepared by members of the Legacy

Legacy League president Karen Bergquist and Samford Ambassador Shea Summerlin at last year’s house tour. Photo courtesy of Caroline Summers.

League will also be served at the home. All homes will be open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and from 4-8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased through Dec. 10 at samford.edu/legacyleague. Tickets will also be available at featured homes during tour hours. For questions about the tour, please check the website or call 726-2247.

Spartan Square Brick Campaign heats up The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce has enlisted the help of the current Leadership Mountain Brook class to promote the Spartan Square Brick Campaign. This class, which is composed of juniors and seniors at Mountain Brook High School, is dedicated to improving the city, and often participates in community projects. Currently, the juniors are pitted against the upperclassmen in a competition to see which campaign will be the most effective in selling bricks for Spartan Square. After the first installation of bricks late this summer, there are still 1,000 spots available for purchase. With the holiday season, everyone is in need of a meaningful gift. Why not consider purchasing a brick in Spartan Square? Not only will it provide funding for future community improvement projects, but

it will also make your mark in the rich history of Mountain Brook. Established by the original Leadership class of 2010-2011, this campaign was designed to raise funds for annual LMB class projects. In the aftermath of the April 27, 2011 tornados, the City of Mountain Brook decided to establish “Spartans Helping Spartans” in an effort to raise money for the Pleasant Grove community, whose mascot is also the Spartans. In total, the city donated $15,000 to help offset the costs of rebuilding the damaged areas. The deadline for brick orders is Jan. 31, 2014. To contact our group, please email us at spartansquare@welcometomountainbrook. com. -Submitted by Jordan Tynes, Haley Fenn, Lindsey Kirk, Griffen Cope, Louis Wade, Brooke Littleton and Jack Ferguson

Southern Tales, Christmas edition at the Gardens Entertainers Dolores Hydock and Bobby Horton will bring stories and sing-a-longs, holiday style, to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens this month. The fifth annual Southern Tales: Songs, Stories and Sing-A-Longs will be held Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. The collection of Christmas carols this season will be familiar, but the stories and songs are all new for 2013. Hydock will offer an encore of her much-requested “Christmas Letters of Thanks,” while Horton will bring fellow musician Tuck Kornegay to join his holiday mix. Nina Reeves and Sammye Hill also join this year’s event for the first time, adding their own collection of stories to the afternoon’s festivities. Hydock, an actress and story performer, has released seven award-winning storytelling albums and is a founding member of Birmingham’s Association of Cajun Music Enthusiasts. Horton has been a part of Birmingham’s

Musician Bobby Horton and storyteller Dolores Hydock

Three on a String for the last 35 years and has produced and performed music for 13 Ken Burns documentaries, including “The Civil War” and “Baseball.” Horton is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading authorities on music from the Civil War period. The event will be held in the Linn Henley Lecture Hall. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at bbgardens.org/southerntales.

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Village Living

Writing for the wee folks Santa’s Adventure in the Merrywood Mega Mall Birmingham Children’s Theatre Production Written by Jean Pierce Dec 7-8 and 14-15 Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Tickets available at bct123.org Jean Pierce, pictured in her Mountain Brook home, received the prestigious Governor’s Arts Award in May. Photo by Lauren Moriarty.

By LAUREN MORIARTY Jean Pierce has lived in the same house in Mountain Brook for 54 years. The scenes and songs she creates there have reached well beyond its walls to around 28,000 children a year. And at 83, she is still writing. After 40 years with Birmingham Children’s Theatre, the playwright is still passionate about her craft. She focuses on writing and directing for the professional actors of Wee Folks, a set of productions tailored to an audience of preschool through first grade. The musicals require that she also work on the sound track to accompany the plot she develops. She composes the lyrics and scratch melody then allows sound designer Jay Tumminello to work his magic on the remainder of the set. Pierce’s productions include numerous works of her own in addition to the muchloved shows she adds her own spin to.

Whatever she writes, she has her audience in mind. “I try to include age appropriate lessons about kindness or sharing with good and unlikable characters,” Pierce said. With the end result, unlikable characters slip in lessons without the children noticing. “City Mouse, Country Mouse is about two mice from completely different lifestyles that still like each other, even though they are different,” said her son, Stephen Pierce, who works as the office manager of Birmingham Children’s Theatre. The play teaches the beauty of diversity in a simple and understandable way to children. It is currently touring Kentucky and Mississippi. Pierce has had a love for acting since her days as a theater major at Birmingham-Southern College, where she fondly recalls performing plays such as Antigone. Her talent for writing plays was first recognized when she served on Birmingham Children Theatre’s Board of directors. The

managing director asked Pierce and a friend to write a play for the company. Soon it was being performed at the Kennedy Center. Pierce’s plays have proved popular with a hard-to-please audience of little ones, so much so that her work with children’s theater was recently recognized with the Governor’s Arts Award. The award honors Alabamians who have made outstanding contributions to the arts. The honor was a total surprise, Pierce said. “It was wonderful. I was thrilled that Children’s Theatre got some notice,” she said. Currently Pierce’s Santa’s Adventure in the Merrywood Mega Mall is on stage at the Wee Folks Theatre. In the script, Santa finds himself locked in the mall on Christmas Eve, just before he is supposed to deliver his presents. Characters in the mall, including a friendly mannequin that comes to life, save the day by helping Santa escape. But before Santa got to the on-stage at the mall, he was an idea that Pierce put on paper.

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When dreams come to life MBJH student cast as Clara in The Nutcracker By MADOLINE MARKHAM Mary Margaret Freeland’s 13th birthday present arrived early. A week before her big day, she found out she was cast in the role of Clara in Birmingham Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. The news, she said, was better than her birthday. “I was happy and shocked,” she said. “It didn’t sink in until after we started practicing two weeks later.” Mary Margaret started begging to take dancing as soon as she was old enough to talk, her mom, Ann, said. At age 4, she saw her first Nutcracker performance and emerged with a single aspiration. She wanted to be Clara when she grew up. After five years in other roles in the production, Mary Margaret knows the scenes well. One of her favorites is the party scene. “You get to clap, skip and hop,” she said. “You get to express fun on stage.” She also likes the candy scene’s upbeat music and how the ballerinas get to “hop on pointe.” In preparation for the December shows, Mary Margaret’s schedule is full. She practices for two and a half hours Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, for an hour and a half on Wednesday and for four to seven hours on Saturday. That makes for up to 16 hours in the studio each week, not to mention several hours she spends at practice for the seventh-grade dance team at Mountain Brook Junior High School. One day a week she wears her leotard and tights under her dance team outfit so she can drive straight to ballet afterward. It’s usually 8 p.m. when she gets home. “On the days when I don’t have dance, I find

Mountain Brook Cast Members

Birmingham Ballet’s The Nutcrakcer Katherine Dean, Cherub Evelyn Frohsin, Mouse Molly Frohsin, Junior Company Ansley Gewant, Mouse Davies Hood, Mother Ginger Eliska Hood, Gingersnap Virginia Hood, Party Girl Marley James, Cherub Elizabeth Lindsey, Senior Company Mary Stewart Pyron, Party Girl Anna Kate Russom, Cherub Gracie Schabacker, Candle Angel Leighton Siegel, Cherub Eva Stewart, Bunny Soldier Kathryn Taylor Todd, Mouse

I am really bored,” she said. At home, Mary Margaret often closes off the living room doors and practices new choreography. No stranger to the stage, Mary Margaret performed as a part of her voice and piano lessons before choosing to focus on dance. “I stopped getting nervous at the performances because of the lights,” she said. “You don’t feel anything once you get on stage. I let my feet guide me.” Mary Margaret will perform at the BJCC

Concert Hall Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. Birmingham Ballet will also hold a Nutcracker performance Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and a Mutt-cracker Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit birminghamballet.com. Mary Margaret Freeland will perform as Clara in Birmingham Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at the BJCC Concert Hall Dec. 14-15. Photo by Madoline Markham.

B6 A30 • December 2013

Village Living

A gift for someone Consider giving to one of these local organizations supported by Mountain Brook residents this holiday season By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Jones Valley Urban Farm Kate Darden

YWCA Paige Daniel

Pratt Austin-Trucks American Cancer Society

Kate’s Story I’ve been serving on Jones Valley’s board for nearly four years. In that time, I’ve seen the reach and impact of our educational programs grow and, importantly, in ways that we can measure. Partnerships with educators ensure that our handson science and nutrition education meets the needs of both learners and teachers. Many children in our community think food comes from a box, a cellophane wrapper, even the grocery store, or worse, a convenience store. I believe the wide-eyed delight of children, with their hands in the dirt, learning that food grows from seeds, from the ground, with humans tending and harvesting it changes perceptions and behaviors. Kids can make better choices if they have choices. Kids may not try new things for their parents, but on the farm, it’s cool to try spinach that you picked. This fall we launched the second season of Glen Iris’ fifth-grade studentrun, biweekly market with the produce they’ve grown. They are learning about financial literacy and being part of a community by doing. How You Can Give Jones Valley believes everyone with a dollar can make a difference. We use an individual fundraising platform that people can access from jonesvalleyteachingfarm.org, or they can plug directly into a fundraiser’s page like mine: stayclassy. org/fundraise?fcid=250407. You can watch short videos that explain how the farm impacts children and families.

Pratt’s Story My mother-in-law and father-in-law both died of cancer. My mother-in-law had esophageal cancer and passed away the day after my daughter’s first Christmas. My father-inlaw had colon cancer, so my husband gets tested for it every five years. It’s important to me personally that we keep funding research because my children are both at risk too since it runs in my family. Hopefully we will have a cure for all kinds of cancer one day. This year I served as co-chair of the 2013 Hope Gala, the biggest single fundraiser for the Birmingham Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and we chose to specifically support the Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge in Southside, a place where kids with cancer and a parent can stay while receiving treatment. How You Can Give It’s great to make a memorial gift at Christmas to someone who has lost a family member to cancer or to make an honorary gift to the American Cancer Society. If you go online to cancer.org, you can choose specific types of cancer you want to fund research for, or you can donate specifically to the Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge.

Paige’s Story The YWCA has always been a family involvement. A social worker by trade, Mom was involved and on the board for many years. I started working on the YWCA Junior Board 12 or so years ago. Their whole mission is empowering women, and that’s something that really speaks to me. They have lots of services available for women, a Kids’ Corner day care in Woodlawn, and a place for families to live. It’s important for me to help give women the tools they need to do well and to prosper, to give them the opportunity to make better a difficult situation, whether that’s leaving an abusive situation or getting on track financially. How You Can Give On the morning of Dec. 14, we hold a Santa’s Workshop where kids come and make gifts for their moms, and moms are able to shop in a kids room and teen room for their kids. It’s a great way for them to give to each other. Volunteers can buy gifts or come and help set up or be shoppers. We will accept new, unwrapped gifts until Dec. 11 at the front desk of the YWCA, 309 23rd Street. To get involved at the event, contact Mary Jane Gibson at mjgibson@ywcabham.org or 322-9922 ext. 343. You can give a donation in honor of someone at ywcabham.org/donate

4th Annual Mountain Brook Chamber Luncheon

Featuring Richard C. Kessler Chairman and CEO of the Kessler Enterprise Inc.

January 16th 2014 The Club

Doors - 11:00 • Luncheon - 11:30 Limited Reserve Seating

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December 2013 • A31 B7

who has everything Family Promise of Birmingham Kim Kimberlin

Kim’s Story As the Family Promise coordinator for St. Luke’s, I coordinate a shelter for homeless families that rotates among 16 churches and synagogues, including St. Peter’s Anglican, St. Stephen’s Episcopal, St. Luke’s, Mountain Brook Baptist and Canterbury United Methodist. Families spend a week at each church and then move to the next one. Each church serves dinner each night and has volunteers stay overnight. During the day the families go to a day center at Southside Baptist or go out to work. Through this program, we are living out the mandate of a verse in Matthew, and we build relationships with the families as we share our resources. The shelter provides a respite from paying for meals and other needs that allows them to get back on their feet. The typical stay is about three months, and the success rate is about 90 percent. We are 100 percent supported by community and receive no federal or state money. How You Can Give Often these families are starting from nothing with only their clothes on their back. One year I gave my dad a letter saying I bought towels for a family moving into a house, and my dad loved it. You can donate in someone’s honor like I did for my dad. We try to collect money and gift cards, about $100 per person in the program, to let the parents shop with it a few days before Christmas. Leftover funds go to families who have been in the program in the past. I love letting a mom be in control of what she wants to buy her child. To donate specifically for this program, you put in the memo in your donation that it is for Christmas gifts. To donate, visit familypromisebham.org or send a check to Family Promise of Birmingham, PO Box 531233, Birmingham, AL 35253.

PreSchool Partners John Hargrove

The Firehouse Shelter John Scott

John’s Story A few years ago as I thought about how I spent (wasted) my free time, I wished for an opportunity to become involved in something that impacted both our greater Birmingham community and its future. When I was asked to help with Preschool Partners, it was like a prayer answered. To see these Birmingham children come through our program learning things like the alphabet, colors, shapes and generally getting ready for big school just like a lot of other children do is truly amazing. Gifts to our program can provide something as big as tuition for a child for a year to something as (not so) small as supplies for a child or books for our library. These gifts last a lifetime for our children!

John’s Story For the last several years, our Bible study group at St. Luke’s and our families have simply brought a nice hot meal to the Firehouse Shelter to feed men staying for the night. We do this one time every other month during the year. Serving a delicious hot meal to those in need is very rewarding. First, it’s a great activity to participate in with friends, neighbors or church members as we grow together. It’s also a great activity to participate in with your family and teaches your children the importance of giving back to those who are in need. It also reminds us that we all are in need and that we must connect with each other in the community of Christ. When we serve dinner, we always bring a big spread of barbecue from Golden Rule because the men appreciate it and we feel like everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a big delicious meal like that.

How You Can Give Preschool Partners loves for people to volunteer as much as their schedule allows. We have celebrity readers who come and read to the children as well as volunteers that help out with seasonal events like “Trunk or Treat.” It costs $6,500 for a family to participate in PreSchool Partners. A donation of $100 provides supplies for an entire school year, and a donation of $75 provides the families with a children’s story book every week during the school year as part of our “Families Reading Together” program. For more information, visit preschoolpartners.org.

How You Can Give There are countless ways to get involved with the Firehouse Shelter. If you’re the type who likes to see the fruits of your labor, check out the volunteer opportunities page at firehouseshelter.com to see how you can directly affect those in need. Current needs going into the holidays include: twin bed mattresses and box springs, linens, pillows, gently used washer and dryers, new socks and underwear for men (all sizes), winter clothing, jackets, coats, long johns, blue jeans, tennis shoes (men’s sizes 9-12, gently used), kitchen cooking utensils, can openers, coffee mugs. Financial donations are great, too. Service opportunities include cooking and serving meals and cleaning and maintenance of properties. Sign up at firehouseshelter.com.

B8 A32 • December 2013

Holiday art show at Brookwood A two-week show will offer shoppers an opportunity to buy gifts of art by local artists. The Mountain Brook Art Association event will run Dec. 5-19 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily in the lower level of Colonial Brookwood Village. Work in all sizes and price ranges from the top artists in the metropolitan area will be available for sale. Proceeds from all sales will be donated to Birmingham’s Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center. Featured artists will appear at the show daily to offer on-site demonstrations. The opening reception will be held Dec. 5 from 4-8 p.m. and will be catered by Cocina Superior. A Grand Finale party will be held Dec. 15 from 5-8 p.m. and will be catered by Brio. For more information on featured artists and additional events, visit mountainbrookartassociation.com.

Village Living

Memory of Jeff Harris honored at Stanford Law School

Featured artists Janet Tillery paints in the lower level of Colonial Brookwood Village during last year’s Holiday Art Show. Photo courtesy of the Mountain Brook Art Association.

Lenten Lunch co-chairs named Mountain Brook residents Carla Reich and Anne-Marie Brown, pictured in the center between Canon Deborah Leighton and Dean Frank Limehouse, have been named the 2014 Lenten Lunch co-chairs for The Cathedral Church of the Advent. Lenten Lunches will be served March 5-April 17, 2014.

Anna Harris stands in front of the bridge dedicated to her husband’s memory at Stanford Law School in Palo Alto, Calif.

Stanford Law School in California recently dedicated a structure to the memory of Jeff Harris of Mountain Brook. Harris lost his battle to colon cancer on December 2, 2010. He graduated from Stanford Law School, and last month, his wife, Anna, flew out to Palo Alto, Calif., where the Law School Class of 1993 dedicated this bridge in his memory. The bridge is located at the new William H. Neukom building, which is part of the law school campus. Anna describes the bridge as more like a two-story atrium, connecting two parts of the new law school building. “It overlooks gardens on both sides, so you feel like you are surrounded by trees and flowers,” she said. “From the outside the glass reflects the gardens and sky.” Anna herself is an avid gardener and has a gardening business. She and Jeff are the parents of three boys, Mac, Sam, and Ben, who attend Mountain Brook High School, junior high, and elementary, respectively, in grades 11, 9 and 6.

VillageLivingOnline.com

December 2013 • A33 B9

My favorite Christmas memory

My favorite Christmas memory was Christmas 2007. I was seven, and my parents took me to New York City for my Christmas present. While we were there, they took me to the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, and we had a photo shoot by it. I had one of the best times! Plus, it was snowing! Sallye Rose Wilkerson Mountain Brook Junior High seventh grade

My favorite Christmas memory was when we hung ornaments on the tree. I loved thinking of all the memories as we decorated. Valentina Lamons Cherokee Bend Elementary third grade

When I got to go to South Africa where my mom’s family lives and meet my new baby cousin, Mac. I also always look forward to Maxine, our elf, coming to our house each year. Annie Baird Crestline Elementary fifth grade

My favorite Christmas memory was taking my first train ride with my grandmother to New York City! While there, we visited the American Girl doll store, toured the Empire State Building and got to see the Rockettes’ Christmas Show and Broadway musical Wicked! Lilly Coker Mountain Brook Elementary first grade

My favorite Christmas was when I got a chalkboard to color on. I drew squares and circles on it most of the day. Forest Summers Cherokee Bend Elementary first grade

I love when my grandpa and grandma come to visit from South Carolina. We like to play games on Christmas Eve. Mary Florence Lacy Cherokee Bend Elementary Kindergarten

B10 A34 • December 2013

Village Living

Holiday Gift Guide

Leadership Mountain Brook students’ picks from area retailers

His & Her Rolexes $8,900-9,100

Ugg Robe and Slippers Robe $125, Slippers $80-85

Cookie Bouquet Starting at $17.99

Pottery Works Skillets $48-150

Original Jewelry Starts at $38

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Matching Rolexes are the perfect gift for the perfect couple. The Rolex Datejust watch is made in multiple versions for both men and women. The men’s watch is stainless steel and white gold with a 41-mm black face and a fluted bezel. The women’s watch is also stainless steel and white gold, but has a more petite 31-mm black face. Bromberg’s, 2800 Cahaba Road, 871-3276 Photo by John Buchanan.

Ugg has always been a crowd favorite, so do not miss out this holiday season. Frances Carson models the Duffield robe from Ugg, which comes in a three-quarters length in cream or chocolate. Slippers from Ugg like the Fluff Flip Flop and the Scuffette will also be a huge hit this winter. The Lingerie Shoppe, 2403 Montevallo Road, 871-8994 Photo by Turner Hull.

The Seven Cookie Christmas Special is a creative gift for any holiday occasion. All arrangements are freshly made each day and can be personalized for any occasion. Cookies by Design, 2812 Cahaba Road, 803-1054 Photo by John Buchanan.

Joseph Davidson is displaying this Pottery Works skillet sold by The Cook Store. Ranging from 7 to 12 inches, this skillet is also microwave, dishwasher, oven and stovetop safe— making it perfect for home-cooked holiday meals. The Cook Store, 2841 Cahaba Road, 879-5277 Photo by Christina Harmon.

One-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry handmade by Town and Country owner Laurel Bassett. Town and Country, 74 Church Street, 871-7909 Photo by Mary Parker Wetzler.

Holiday Gift Guide

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B11 December 2013 • A35

Frasier Fir Candles $33

Aztec Fitted Bel – Vava by Joy Han $108

TNS Essential Serum $230

Rabbit Vest $350

This Frasier Fir scented candle made by Thymes releases the wonderful smells of the holidays. It is enclosed in a pine cone to provide decoration. Please Reply, 50 Vine Street, 870-4773 Photo by Mary Parker Wetzler.

A stylish and comfortable sweater-dress, Madeline Marx shows off an ensemble perfect for winter styles. This unique dress, warm and soft, is the ideal gift for women of all ages and all different body types. The Pink Tulip, 2800 Cahaba Village Plaza, Suite 175, 637-5390 Photo by Jordan Tynes.

TNS Essential Serum, a skin care product by SkinMedica shown by Jack Ferguson, is a great gift idea for this year’s holiday season so you can protect your skin against the harsh winter weather. Village Dermatology, 2900 Cahaba Road, 877-9773 Photo by Griffen Cope.

Christina Harmon is wearing a 100-percent rabbit fur vest by Love Token. This vest is reversible and has leather trim along with a sweater back and pockets. Village Sportswear, 2421 Montevallo Road, 879-5748 Photo by Joseph Davidson.

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Biodome Hats $17

These fun, goofy hats from Biodome Headgear, modeled by John Buchanan, are the perfect, creative stocking stuffer this holiday season. Swoop, 2721 Cahaba Road, 803-0886

Making People Happy For 23 Years, It’s the holiday tradition! BEST OF MOUNTAIN BROOK Village Living 2013

Most friendly service

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Holiday Gift Guide

B12 A36 • December 2013

Water Dancing Speakers $49.99

Barbour Vest $229

Minimergency Kit for Her $15

Village Living 12

Snoozy’s Kids in Crestline Village provides the perfect gift for all ages this holiday season — the brand-new Water Dancing Speakers. The speakers are loud enough for any room in the house, and dance with the beat of the song they are playing. Snoozy’s, 228 Country Club Park, 871-2662 Photo by Jack Royer.

Stay warm this winter with the Barbour vest modeled by Jack Royer. The vest provides the wearer with a sleek look as well as a warm silk fabric, and is the perfect gift for any guy this holiday season. Mobley & Sons, 112 Euclid Avenue, 870-7929 Photo by William Cole.

It’s hard not to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. But fear not, because the Pinch’s Minimergency Kit for Her has you covered as shown by Brooke Littleton. With 17 essentials, ranging from hair spray to dental floss, you can keep your “cool” under any circumstances! Laura Kathryn, 61 Church Street., 870-5683 Photo by Lindsey Kirk.

Neighborhood Candles $28

Mountain Brook, Crestline and English Village now have their own unique scents in these candles, shown by Turner Hull, and come at a reasonable price. Magic City Holiday and Alabama Christmas are two other candles that will be available as well. Marguerite’s Conceits, 2406 Canterbury Road, 879-2730 Photo by Frances Carson.

13 14

Leather Boots $205, $418

Nothing says chilly weather like a pair of brand-new boots. Located in English Village, Monkee’s has a wide variety of styles and brands that will complement any personality! Stop by to check out their selection including the Frye Suede with Leather Straps ($418) or Sofft Aztec Pattern ($205) modeled by Haley Fenn and Lindsey Kirk. Monkee’s of Mountain Brook, 2006 Cahaba Road, 783-1240 Photo by Brooke Littleton.

VillageLivingOnline.com

Holiday Gift Guide

Liz Legg Jewelry $165-195

Local designer Liz Legg makes beautiful jewelry that will be available this Christmas. Pictured are her druzy gold wrapped stud earrings ($165), the coin necklace ($195), and the horn long 16 necklace ($195) on Frances Carson. Legg will also host a pop up shop Dec. 20-21 at Etc. in Mountain Brook Village. Etc., 2726 Cahaba Road, 871-6747 Photo by Turner Hull.

Mercury Holiday Stemware $16 per glass

Signed Alabama Football Helmet $500

Button Briolette Necklace $398

Patagonia Los Lobos Vest $99

December 2013 • A37 B13

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Looking to put a signature mark on your holiday party? These unique stemware glasses featured at Trouve in English Village create a perfect balance of elegance and modern flair. Available in silver and gold as shown by Lindsey Kirk and Brooke Littleton, they are sure to bring “cheers” to your home. Trouve, 2004 Cahaba Road, 490-1533 Photo by Haley Fenn.

Griffen Cope holds an item that will literally go down in history. This signed Alabama football helmet by the stars of the 2009 National Championship game will be a part of college football lore forever. A Tiny Kingdom, 2834 Culver Road, 802-8469 Photo by Jack Ferguson. 18

This Button Briolette necklace made by an artist out of Santa Fe can only be found in one store in Alabama. A piece like this would make a fabulous gift for the holidays. Lamb’s Ears, 70 Church Street, 802-5700 Photo by Mary Parker Wetzler.

Jordan Tynes models a deep-pile polyester fleece that is perfect for cold weather. The polyester lining is somewhat wind-resistant, and the pockets are lined with material for warmth. The boots pictured can also be found at Mountain High Outfitters. Mountain High Outfitters, 2800 Cahaba Village Plaza, Suite 250, 970-3300 Photo by Madeline Marx.

Each rug has a story. And we’ve got a lot of new stories to share. We’ve just returned from a buying excursion to Turkey and Morocco with over 400 oneof-a-kind antique, vintage and modern heirloom rugs, each with a once-in-alifetime history behind it. Come visit our new larger showroom, and shop our new inventory today.

kingshouseorientalrugs.com - (205) 244-1933 Shop: 2807 2nd Ave S, Birmingham Al - Hours: M-F: 10-4 / S: 10-3

B14 A38 • December 2013

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Village Living

Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

Identity 911 W

hen I got married, I went from being Kari Kubiszyn to Kari Kampakis. Transitioning from one odd name to another was easy. Figuring out who this new person was, however, launched an identity crisis I didn’t expect. I was thrilled to finally live in the same city as Harry, but moving to Huntsville from Birmingham meant leaving my friends, my family and a job I adored. In Birmingham everything clicked for me, but in Huntsville I couldn’t catch a groove, much less find work. Everyone I knew was working, and being home alone, with no one to talk to except the postman, allowed me too much time to think. Who was I with my slate wiped clean? Why did I feel so small and insignificant with nothing special to say about myself except that I’d just gotten married? For 26 years, I’d been known for something — good grades, credentials, a promising career — but with those things in my past, they weren’t relevant anymore. My new identity, Kari Kampakis, had no tagline, nothing to make me stand out from the zillions of other folks in this world. It was then I realized a painful truth: My self-esteem was tied to my achievements. And when I wasn’t achieving, my selfesteem suffered. And whereas I’d like to say I turned to God, immediately found my identity in Christ, it would be years before I fully embraced that truth. Instead, I did what came naturally and looked for another mountain to climb. My

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husband had just decided to go back to school for an MBA. When the program director suggested I join him, I applied. It was a weekend program, but I studied full-time, all the while working in freelance writing jobs to pay my tuition. With every “A” I made, my self-esteem slowly crept back up, and by the time we graduated, I felt like my old self again. Only this time there was a difference. This time I was aware that accomplishments don’t define me. This time I knew not to get too attached to bullet points on my resume because in the long run they don’t matter. The only way to never lose my selfesteem again, I realized, was to start finding value in who I am, not what I’ve done. I’ve grown up a lot since then, and while I’m still a girl-in-progress, I now understand what my problem was. I had built my identity on quicksand, defined myself by things that could change overnight. And when they did change, I was lost. But when I define myself as a child of God, I find the foundation I crave. Because He’s permanent, so is my status in Him. It’s a relief to have a title I can count on, a rocksolid identity no one can take away. This world can strip me of everything I have, but my identity in God and His son Christ Jesus is mine to keep. At some point in time, we all face an identity crisis. We wonder who we are, what our life means, and what we have to show for it. But before we hit the panic button, let us first breathe and remember it’s not our credentials

that give us worth. It’s not our family, our bank account or material possessions. You and I are worthy because we exist. Believe it or not, that’s enough. And while the birth of Jesus represents big news for our salvation, it also represents big news for our time on earth. Through Jesus we can cope with worldly pressures to chase money, fame and success. We can stop buying into lies that we’re only as good as our latest achievement. When we find our identity in Jesus, we’re free. We’re free to win and fail, to rise and fall, to do what we’re called to do with loving abandon because whether we thrive or stumble it doesn’t change who we are. Our identity stays firm. This Christmas season, let’s think about what we put our faith in. Let’s reflect on how we define ourselves and whether our identity is built on quicksand. Most of all, let’s remember why a Savior came to save sinners, of whom I am the first. By making Jesus our 911, we can survive any crisis. We can stand confidently in any circumstance, secure in the knowledge that the Son of God is our foundation, unshakable, steady and ever-dependable. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four with a background in PR, writing and photography. For more inspiration, join her Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer” or find her on Twitter. Visit her at karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@karikampakis.com.

B15 December 2013 • A39

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Faith

Celebrate the season with these church Christmas events Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church

Celebrate the Arrival of the Three Wise Men, 11 a.m.

3405 Brookwood Road 967-5037 mbpcusa.org Sunday, Dec. 1 Hanging of the Greens: A Service of Worship for the First Sunday of Advent, 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 Advent Luncheon, following 11 a.m. worship Friday, Dec. 13 MBPC Preschool Christmas Program, noon

Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church

3001 U.S. 280 802-7070 mbcc.us

Tuesday, Dec. 3 Birmingham Boys Choir Annual Christmas Concert, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22 Sunday Worship, 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 4 Service of Lessons and Carols, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Services, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 11 God and Jazz concert, Christmas edition, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29 Worship Service, 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Worship with Carols and Communion, 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014 Children’s Epiphany Processional:

Wednesday, Dec. 25 Holy Eucharist, Rite II, 11 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22 Children’s Christmas Pageant: Children Tell the Christmas Story Through Music and Dialogue, 11 a.m.

Canterbury Center, 10:30 a.m. The WAY in the Chapel, 5 p.m.

3736 Montrose Road 871-3583 saint-lukes.com

Tuesday, Dec. 24 Children’s and Family Eucharist, 3 p.m. Choral Concert, 4:30 p.m. Family Eucharist (Contemporary Music), 5 p.m. Choral Concert, 7 p.m. Festival Eucharist, Rite II, 7:30 p.m. Choral Concert, 10 p.m. Festival Eucharist, Rite II, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 18 Dinner and Christmas Party, 6 p.m.

Mountain Brook Community Church

Canterbury United Methodist Church 350 Overbrook Road 871-4695 canterburyumc.org

December Worship Schedule: New Traditions, Chapel, 8:15 a.m. Sunday School, 9:15 a.m. Traditional Worship- Sanctuary, 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship-

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Sunday, Dec. 8 Birmingham-Southern College Choirs, Service of Lessons & Carols,:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 Jefferson State Community College Winter Concert, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 Senior Adult Christmas Legacy Luncheon, Noon

Sunday, Dec. 1 Advent Sermon Series: “Home for Christmas: The Christ Child Makes a Home in Our Hearts & World”

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Friday, Dec. 6 Birmingham-Southern College Choirs, Service of Lessons & Carols, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 23 Best Loved Music of the Season for the Community, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Communion & Candlelight Services Contemporary Worship, Canterbury Center, 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. The WAY, Canterbury Hall, 3:30

p.m. Traditional Worship, 5:30 p.m. Sanctuary, 11 p.m. Chapel

Mountain Brook Baptist Church 3631 Montevallo Road 871-0331 mbbc.org Sunday, Dec. 1 Hanging of the Green, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Worship Services Sunday, Dec. 15 Sing We Now of Christmas, presented by the Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra, 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18 Christmas... A Time for Singing, performed by the Mellow Brook Singers, Dinner 5 p.m., Program 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 Glorious: A Celebration of Christmas and God’s Plan of Redemption, presented by the MBBC Praise Band, 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service, 5 p.m.

Feliz Navidad

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B16 A40 • December 2013

Village Living

Celebrations Thomas-Brown

Lane Ellen Thomas and Graham Ronald Brown married Aug. 24, 2013, at Canterbury United Methodist Church. Reverend DeWitt Thomason Bell Jr. and Reverend Samuel Lee Williamson officiated the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Michael Thomas of Mountain Brook. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Frances Manly Ferrell of Birmingham and the late Mr. Harold Cleveland Manly Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. L.S. Thomas Jr. of Birmingham. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Anthony Brown of Goose Creek, S.C. He is the grandson of Mr. Joseph Armisted Neff of Charleston, S.C., and the late Mrs. Geraldine Ott Neff and the late Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Herbert Brown of Cheshire, England. The bride was given in marriage by her father. Allison Brooke Westlake served as her maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Evan Ashley Alderson, Melissa Manly Bonds, Stephanie Jean Cannon, Leslie Myer Crawford, Kori Louise Harrow, Rebecca Marguerite McCaleb, Laura Margaret Steul and Ashley Austin Vibert.

Flower girls were Hallie Kay Head and Sara Frances Head. The groom’s brother, Jonathan Neff Brown, served as his best man. Groomsmen were Jay Jeffrey Brown, Steven Michael Kimmel, Steven Michael Lloyd, Shawn Patrick McGregor, Christopher Marcus Mitchell, Scott Aaron Stanley and Kirk Michael Thomas, brother of the bride. Music was provided by Dr. Lester Seigel, Kristi Tingle-Higginbotham and David Higginbotham. The bride wore an ivory French Alencon lace v-neck Augusta Jones gown with a ruched silk taffeta cummerbund at her waist. The plunging v-back was accented with satin covered buttons and a full chapel length train. Her waltz-length veil of ivory illusion was edged with lace and was handmade by the bride’s great-grandmother, Frances Kirk, for the bride’s mother to wear in her 1982 wedding. Her cousin, Melissa Manly Bonds, also wore it in her 2010 wedding. After a honeymoon trip to Jamaica, the couple lives in Birmingham.

Have an engagement, wedding or anniversary announcement? Email jennifer@villagelivingonline.com to have it included in an upcoming issue!

Peters-Watson Sara Kristen Peters and Joseph Ellis “Tripp” Watson III married at 5:30 p.m. on June 29 at the First Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. Dr. David Hughes officiated. The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Randy Alan Peters of WinstonSalem. Her grandparents are Mrs. Clyde Johnson Eggleston and the late Mr. Clyde Johnson Eggleston of Bassett, Va., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Wayne Peters. The groom is the son of Mrs. Joseph Ellis Watson Jr. of Birmingham, and the late Mr. Joseph Ellis Watson Jr. His grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Todd of Trussville and the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ellis Watson of Luverne, Ala. The bride was escorted by her father. She wore a Monique Lhuillier modified trumpet gown with double layered Alencon and chantilly lace. Her finger-tip length veil was edged in Alencon lace. She carried a bouquet of white hydrangea, lisiathus, freesia, calla lilies, Eskimo and pink akita roses. The maid of honor was Kathryn Gerding of Nashville. The bridesmaids were Bess Watson and C.J. Watson, sisters of the groom, along with Sarah Bruch of Richmond, Va., Lindsay Beach of Washington, D.C., and Megan Yeatts of Birmingham. The best man was Mr. Roy Darrell Lamb Jr. of Auburn. The groomsmen were Stephen Peters, brother of the bride, of Portland, Ore., and Trey Booth and Carter Manuel, both of Birmingham, along with Alex Newton and Jackson Owens of Atlanta. The program attendants were Sarah

McNeely and Rachel Little, and the guest register was Anna Mallard. The readers were Ben Blackerby and Sarada Rao. A rehearsal dinner was held at The Millennium Center, and the wedding reception was at Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. After a honeymoon to Bora Bora, the couple resides in Birmingham.

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Order your holiday cakes and desserts early

B17 December 2013 • A41

VillageLivingOnline.com

Calendar Mountain Brook Events

The Annual Mountain Brook Holiday Parade is slated for Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. Mountain Brook Village.

Dec. 3: 36th Annual Birmingham Boys Choir Christmas Concert. 7:30 p.m. Canterbury United Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Road. This year, the choir will be joined by choir alumni and fathers of current choristers. Free and open to the public. Visit birminghamboyschoir.com or call 767-9219. Dec. 3: Festival of Lights Southern Fried Chanukah Celebration. 5-7 p.m. Levite Jewish Community Center. Featuring 1st Annual Latke Throwdown, World Series of Dreidel and a Southern Fried Chanukah Dinner. Make meal reservations ($10 adult, $6 kids and $32 family) by Dec. 1. Visit bhamjcc.org or contact Samantha Dubrinsky at samd@bjf. org. Dec. 4: English Village Open House. 4-8 p.m. Businesses open late for holiday shopping. Dec. 5: Mountain Brook Village Open House. 5-8 p.m. Businesses open late for holiday shopping.

Colonial Brookwood Village, lower level. Visit mountainbrookartassociation.com. Dec. 6-31: ZooLight Safari. Birmingham Zoo. More than half a million lights, music and holiday activities transform the zoo in a winter wonderland. $8 nonmembers, zoo members free. Visit birminghamzoo.com or call 879-0409. Dec. 7, 14, 21: Breakfast with Santa. 8 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. Birmingham Zoo. Members: $14 adults, $9 children. Nonmembers: $14 adults, $15 children. Visit birminghamzoo.com. Dec. 8: Southern Tales: Songs, Stories and Sing-a-longs. 2 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens presents Dolores Hydock and Three on a String. Visit bbgardens.org/southerntales. Dec. 8: Mountain Brook Holiday Parade. 3 p.m. Mountain Brook Village. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com.

Dec. 4: Red Mountain Garden Club’s Greenery Sale. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Proceeds benefit the Botanical Gardens and the Birmingham Museum of Art garden. Visit redmountaingardenclub.com.

Dec. 24, 26-28, 31, Jan. 2-4: School’s Out but the J’s in Winter Break. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. LJCC. Grades kindergarten through fourth grade welcome. Program is led by counselors who will provide safe and fun activities. $25 members, $35 nonmembers. Visit bhamljcc.org.

Dec. 5-19: Mountain Brook Art Association Annual Art Show.

Dec. 10: Cornerstone Christmas. 6-9 p.m. Urban Cookhouse Crestline, 212

Country Club Park. The event will feature live music and menu tastings. All proceeds will directly go to Cornerstone Schools of Alabama, which is located in Woodlawn. $20 for adults or $5 for kindergarten through 12th grade. Call 803-3535 or visit urbancookhouse.com. Dec. 21, 22, 23: Living Nativity. 6:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:15 p.m. Mountain Brook Baptist Church. Hot chocolate and refreshments available. Call 871-0331.

B18 A42 • December 2013

Village Living

Library Events Emmet O’Neal Library

Children

Call-445-1121 or visit eolib.org for more.

Mondays *Toddler Tales Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Adults Wednesdays: Brown Bag Lunch Series. Noon doors open, 12:30 p.m. program.

Tuesdays

Dec. 3: Documentaries After Dark. 6:30 p.m. Showing film about the epic poem Beowulf.

Library Out Loud Story Time. 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 7: Knit & Knibble. 2-3:30 p.m. All crafts and skill levels welcome.

Together Time Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Evenings @ EOL. 6 p.m.

Dec. 9: Great Books. 6:30 p.m. Book group discussing a selected short story, “Argument and Persuasion” by Donald Hall.

Wednesdays

Dec. 10: The Bookies. 10 a.m. Book group, discussing The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham.

Thursdays

Dec. 17: Genre Reading Group. 6:30 p.m.

SNaP. 3:30 p.m.

*Mother Goose Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.

*Patty Cake Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Dec. 22-25: Library Closed for Christmas. Dec. 22- Jan. 1: Holiday Hours: MondayThursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.5 p.m., Sunday closed. Dec. 31-Jan. 1: Library Closed for New Year’s.

Saturdays Family Story Time with Mr. Mac. 10:30 a.m.

Special Events Dec. 3: Evenings @ EOL: PJ Storytime. 6 p.m.

Teens Dec. 4: TAB. 5-6 p.m. The monthly meeting of the library’s Teen Advisory Board. Dec. 6: Game On Video Game Tournament. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 8: Teen Book Club. 1-2:30 p.m. Dec. 13: Holiday Craft Bazaar. 4-6 p.m. Dec. 16-19: Exam Study Breaks. (Special hours Dec. 18, 6-9 p.m.)

Dec. 4: After-School Special: Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Holiday Hairdo Hullaballoo. 3 p.m. Dec. 10: Family Night: North Pole Follies puppet show. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 14: *Chess Tournament. 11:30 a.m. Dec. 17: Evenings @ EOL: Christmas Movie and Popcorn. 6 p.m. Dec. 19: *Bookmania: The Water Castle. 6 p.m. *Space is limited; please call 879-0497 or visit eolib.org to register.

Mountain Brook Art Association’s Art Show, scheduled for Dec. 5-19, will feature demonstrations by local artists.

MBHS Athletics Dec. 2: Boys Basketball Away at Hewitt-Trussville. JV 4:30 p.m., ninth 6 p.m., varsity 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6: Boys Basketball Home vs. Spain Park. JV 4:30 p.m., ninth 6 p.m., varsity 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4: Wrestling at Pelham Over the Mountain Duals. 5 p.m. Dec. 6: Wrestling Huntsville Invitational at Huntsville. Dec. 10: Boys Basketball at Ramsay. JV 4:30 p.m., ninth 6 p.m., varsity 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 13: Boys Basketball at Hoover. JV 4:30 p.m., ninth 6 p.m., varsity 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14: Boys Basketball at Northridge. JV 4:30 p.m., ninth 6 p.m., varsity 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19-20: Boys Varsity Basketball Steel City Invitational. Samford University. Dec. 20-21, 23: Boys JV and Ninth Basketball Jaguar Classic at Spain Park. Dec. 26-28: Boys Big Orange Classic at Hoover.

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Area Events Dec. 1: SuperJazz Concert. 3-4:35 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. $5, $3 with student ID at door only. Call 335-2961. Dec. 2: 103.7 The Q’s Little Black Dress Party to Fight Breast Cancer. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Workplay. $15 regular, $50 VIP. Featuring Icona Pop and Chris Wallace. Call 380-4082. Dec. 5: Open House & World AIDS Day Event. 4:30-7:30 p.m. Birmingham AIDS Outreach, 205 2nd Street South. Free. Call 322-4197. Dec. 5-7: Sloss Holiday Market. Thursday 6-9 p.m., Friday 3-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sloss Furnace. Local vendors sell art, crafts, food and more. Call 324-1911. Dec. 5-22: Red Mountain Theatre Company presents ‘Tis the Season. Wednesday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 2 p.m. RMTC Cabaret Theatre, 301 19th Street North. $30-35. Family-friendly play featuring sights and sounds of the holiday season. Visit redmountaintheatre.org or call 324-2424. Dec. 5-22: Theatre Downtown presents Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. Fifth Avenue AntiquesTheatre Downtown, 2410 5th Avenue South. Hoping to end their children’s obsession with Santa, aliens hatch a plan to kidnap Old Saint Nick himself. $15 students, $20 adults. Visit theatredowntown.org or call 565-8838. Dec. 7: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. BJCC. $41.65, $52.15 and $73.20. Call 745-3000. Dec. 7-8: Christmas at Arlington.

Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m. Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens, 331 Cotton Ave. Featuring holiday décor, costumed period characters from holidays past, music and light refreshments. Call 780-5656. Dec. 8: Birmingham Girls Choir Holiday Concert. 3 p.m. Shades Crest Baptist Church. Featuring Una Voce, Intermezzo, and Prelude Choirs. Directors are Margaret Heron, Meredith Devore and Lindsay Walker. Dec. 12: Samford University’s Legacy League 2nd Annual Home Tour. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 4-8 p.m. $20. Visit samford.edu/legacyleague or call 726-2247. Dec. 12-22: ‘A Bluegrass Christmas Carol.’ Virginia Samford Theatre at Samford University. $20, $25. Classic Christmas carol “mountainized” with bluegrass group The Herb Trotman Band accompanying the musical. Visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org or call 251-1206. Dec. 13-15, 21-22: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. 2:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Times vary by date. Wright Center, Samford University. Presented by Alabama Ballet. $20-$55. Call 975-2787 or visit samford.edu/wrightcenter. Dec. 13: Birmingham Ballet’s The Muttcracker. 7:30 p.m. BJCC. Dancers and dogs make for a memorable night benefiting the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. . $32.75, $43.75 and $54.50. Visit birminghamballet.com/performances.htm or call 1-800-745-3000. Dec. 14: Decked Out Dash 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. 7 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. race. Oak Mountain State Park. Runners

The Samford University’s Legacy League 2nd Annual Home Tour is scheduled for Dec. 12 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.

are asked to come “decked out” in holiday clothes and costumes. Benefits The Arc of Jefferson County’s programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. $30 for 5K, $25 fun run. Visit arcofjeff.org/2013decked-out-dash. Dec. 14-15: Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday Home Tour. Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m. All proceeds go to support church’s women’s ministries including Children’s Fresh Air Farm. $20. Visit ipc-usa.org. Dec. 14-15: Birmingham Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Saturday 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. BJCC. Visit birminghamballet.com/performances.htm. Call 1-800-745-3000.

Dec. 16-20: Christmas at Rucker Place. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Rucker Place, 1804 12th Avenue South. See the house decorated for Christmas and try out Chef Richard’s food. $25 per person. Email info@ruckerplace. com for reservations. Call 558-2485 or visit ruckerplace.com for more. Dec. 20: Mythbusters. 8 p.m. BJCC. Popular TV show comes to life on stage with hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage performing experiments and more. $38.10$96.75. Call 1-800-745-3000. Dec. 30: Annual Community Kwanza. 6 p.m. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Free. Visit bcri.org or call 328-9696.

A44 • December 2013

Village Living

MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLAGE

HOLIDAY

OPEN HOUSE A Tiny Kingdom, A'Mano, Antiquities, Beverly Ruff, Bromberg's, Buckhead Interiors, Charlotte Woodson, Christine's, Cookie's by Design, DandeLion, ETC, Harrison's Limited, Harper’s Salon, JoJo Home, Lingerie Shoppe, Little Hardware, M. Lavendar, Marella, Marguerite's Conceits, Mountain Brook Creamery, Mulbe Mulberry Heights, Ollie Irene, Paige Albright Orientals, Rex Harris, Ritch's Pharmacy, Ruby Ansley Interiors, Sew Sheri, Smith’s, Stella Blu, Suite Dreams, Swoop, Table Matters, The Cook Store, Trocadero, Village Dermatology, Village Sportswear, Ware and Co