Village Living April 2012 by Starnes Media

Village Living

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| April 2012 |

neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook

MBHS Sprinig Sports -pg 12

CBS Talent Show -pg 20

Volume 3 | Issue 1 | April 2012

Local artists to gather at annual show in Crestline By BRITTNEY HARRISON What began as a handful of local artists gathering together to show and sell their work has grown into a day-long event featuring artists from a 50-mile radius. The Mountain Brook Art Association will hold its 31st Annual Art Show on April 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the athletic field at Crestline Elementary School. This year more than 65 tents will be strewn across the spacious green field in Crestline. Artists of all ages and experiences will be displaying and selling their artwork at all price ranges. “It’s a place [for artists] to put their work out and get their feet wet a little bit, people start here and go onto professional careers but still come back,” Show Chairman Gayle Hurley said. In addition to the art, the event will feature lunch vendors, ice cream and, new this year, live music from the Mountain Brook High School Jazz Ensemble. The Art Show is a great way for residents to support the local art community while spending a spring day with family and friends. For more information on the art show, visit www.mountainbrookartassociation. com.

April Features City Council Mountain Brook Events Mountain Brook Artists Treeline Expeditions Food Truck Roundup Kari Kampakis Village Sports School House Business Spotlight Restaurant Showcase Dale Wisley Around the Villages Calendar of Events

5 6 7 8 9 11 12 19 22 23 24 24 26

Families gather at the annual Mountain Brook Art Association Show on the athletic fields at Crestline Elementary. Photo courtesy of Gayle Hurley.

See page 7 to learn more about Mountain Brook artists at the show.

Caring for Coyoles

New Lane Parke plan receives Helping change lives one surgery at a time positive response By MADOLINE MARKHAM

“Honestly, I was looking for a place where I could do reconstructive surgery in the morning and relax on the beach in the

A third plan for the Lane Parke development in Mountain Brook Village received a positive response from residents at the city’s Planning Commission public hearing on March 5. “I am thrilled,” said Sallie Johnson, who lives a few blocks from the village. “I think it’s a good plan, and the way [Evson] responded to criticisms [of previous plans] was very respectful. I hope the inn works as well.” The public hearing will continue Monday, April 2 at the auditorium at Mountain Brook Junior High School. Once all remaining details have been discussed, the commission will vote on whether to grant the development Planned Unit Development zoning before it goes before the City Council. John Evans of Evson, Inc., the family business that has owned Mountain Brook Shopping Center and Lane Parke apartments since 1947, began the presentation by saying he hoped this hearing process would complete their

See COYLEs | page 25

See LANE PARKE | page 14

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Dr. Gordon Robinson, Carrie Wilder and Mallie Ireland of Mountain Brook pose with a patient outside the Honduras clinic. Photo courtesy of the Robinson Foundation.

By ABBY FRAZER Dr. Gordon Robinson tries to stifle his smile as he describes what he was looking for on his first mission trip to Coyoles, Honduras, in 1979.

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| April 2012 |

Village Living

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Village Living

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| April 2012 | Welcome Friends

Village Living

MBHS students Walker Sewell and Jack Lacey, pictured with MBHS Art Photography Instructor Andy Meadows and State Superintendent of Education Dr. Thomas R. Bice, placed in the statewide 2012 State Superintendents’ Visual Arts Competition and will have their work hanging in the Old Supreme Court Library of the Alabama State Capitol. Walker won first place in Category II (Photography and Computer Art) for ninth and tenth grade. Jack won second place in Category II (Photography and Computer Art) for eleventh and twelfth grade. Photo courtesy of Andy Meadows.

Staff & Friends Contributing Writers

School House Contributors Frances Watts -Cherokee Bend Alyssa Monson - Crestline Bama Hager -Brookwood Forest Sherrie Futch- Mountain Brook High School Hilary Ross - Mountain Brook Elem. & Mountain Brook Jr High

Editor’s Note It seems like things really a favorite among residents. You begin to get revved up for can stroll around Crestline field spring in April. Nice weather, admiring beautiful artwork— fun events, time with family much of it by local artists— and friends. The days are and catch up with friends, too. longer and warmer. There are Make sure you read our profile lots of exciting things to look of several of Mountain Brook’s forward to in our April issue artists participating in this too. year’s show. Many of you may be Be sure you also check familiar with Mountain out all the details on other Brook Elementary teachers upcoming events such as Suzanne and Bill Andrews, the Junior League’s Bargain Jennifer Gray but did you also know that Carousel, a favorite for those they have a passion for the outdoors and looking for a great find and a way to help wilderness adventure? They are offering others; the first ever Food Truck Round this experience to high school students this Up in Mountain Brook Village, benefitting summer through one of several expeditions PreSchool Partners; the Birmingham Music to New Mexico. Read all about their story Club’s Bravo! Birmingham at the Wright and a fantastic experience that awaits those Center; and spring programs at the library. who go. Lastly, with Easter and Passover Another family in Mountain Brook this month, please send us pictures of has also been taking an adventurous trip your family celebrating and children several times a year, though of a very in their Easter best. We would love to different nature. Dr. Gordon Robinson and feature them on our new website, www. his wife, Kitty, have been helping those in villagelivingonline.com or in an upcoming need in Honduras for more than 30 years issue. now. Through their Robinson Foundation, their medical teams provide vital surgeries, health care and love to these villagers. Read Abby Frazer’s cover story on this amazing work that they are doing. Spring also means the annual Mountain Brook Art Show. This tradition is

Editor’s Top 5 1. Attend the Easter egg hunt in Crestline on April 7. Fun for the whole family and see the Easter bunny, too. 2. Enjoy one of Billy’s terrific salads or sandwiches for lunch or dinner. It’s a Mountain Brook tradition. Grab a bite on the way to the ballpark or any other spring activity. 3. Give your home a fresh spring look. Tracery has amazing throw pillows and accessories to brighten up any spot in your home for a little something new for spring. Check out our business spotlight this month for more information on Tracery. 4. Get outside and enjoy these longer springtime days. Stroll around one of the villages while enjoying an ice cream cone or frozen yogurt. Have a picnic at the Botanical Gardens, or get a group of friends and walk Jemison Trail. 5. Visit www.villagelivingonline.com daily. It’s the best way to stay up to date on all things Mountain Brook.

Contributing Photographers Image Arts | Alison Gault | Catherine Pittman Smith Photography

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Village Living

| April 2012 |

City council Crime report updates By LT. JIM COLE

Traffic study on Overton and Briar Oak A traffic study will be conducted in the Overton Road and Briar Oak Drive vicinity due to the volume and speed of traffic in that area. “Sixty percent of people driving through that area are over the speed limit,” said City Manager Sam Gaston. “There is

no sight visibility on the west of Briar Oak Drive.” Skipper Consultant Richard Caudle has proposed to look at these particular areas. The study will take up to four weeks to complete.

Paving to begin this summer Paving bids will be sent out this month to various paving companies in regard to a paving project set to start this summer. The areas to be repaved include: Montevallo Road from Church Street to Greenbriar

Lane, the alley behind CVS in Crestline, Wynward Road, Old Brook Run, Sedley Drive, Hermitage Road, Beechwood Road and Fernway Road.

Mountain Brook Parkway bridge replacement An application has been sent to the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) in order to replace the Mountain Brook Parkway Bridge. The estimated cost of this replacement is $960,000. If accepted,

80 percent of funding would be applied through the grant process. The outcome of the grant will not be revealed until May 16. If the bridge project gets funding through ATRIP, the bridge replacement project is set to start in 2013.

New light on Briar Oak Drive Residential requests to install a street light at 3948 Briar Oak Drive have been authorized. Alabama Power Company will

be responsible for installing the street light to illuminate the dead end street.

Week ending March 15 This week we had one home burglary and no UBEVs (Unlawful Breaking and Entering Vehicles). The home burglary occurred on Matthews Road (Crestline) between March 9 and March 11. A thief entered the home after breaking a glass pane on a rear door. Jewelry was taken. There was no alarm.

Summary of miscellaneous incidents A woman reported that she has been receiving harassing text messages from a man she met on Match.com. She went out with him on two dates and decided she only wanted to be friends He couldn’t accept that and started sending her crazy text messages including one where he accused her of owing him thousands of dollars. This is the second harassment report we have received in the past few weeks involving a single woman being harassed after meeting a man on Match.com. If you are a single female, be careful when dealing with any internet dating service. A theft report was taken after it was discovered that a sitter for an elderly patient had stolen money and a credit card from his employer. We are optimistic that we will soon have a warrant for this thief. Several teenagers were caught with beer near the Birmingham Country Club. One of the teenagers threw a sack of beer cans from his vehicle and was charged with littering. An ex-boyfriend sent his ex-girlfriend threatening text messages. We will contact him concerning his messages. She will decide if she wants to pursue a warrant. We took a harassment report when a disgruntled employee had a dispute over her pay and continually called her work

place. She was told to stop calling, but she continued to call. She went to her work place, caused a scene and was fired. A chair was stolen in front of Joe Muggs. Two white males were seen leaving the scene in a Honda-type vehicle. No color of the vehicle was included in the report and the witness did not get a tag number. A husband and his wife had an altercation that left him bleeding from a scratch, and he had a bruise on his back. She was not injured but was transferred to a hospital for a psychological evaluation. A teenager from Birmingham was arrested for shoplifting at Macy’s. She had concealed several items of clothing. A teenager had a physical altercation with his parents, and the police were called. After taking control of the subject, he was taken into custody. A parent was out of town, and a party took place at her home. The police were called, and upon their arrival several juveniles ran from the scene. Some were apprehended, and their parents were called. The police officers found many alcoholic beverages in the area. The Mountain Brook ordinance which prohibits “Open House Parties” will apply. For those who aren’t familiar with this ordinance, it prohibits underage children from having alcoholic gatherings when the parents are gone. The ordinance holds those parents who own the home responsible for the event even if they are unaware that the event is taking place. A woman who lives on Montclair Road had her tag taken from her vehicle.

See CRIME REPORT | page 16

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| April 2012 |

Village Living

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The largest annual plant sale fundraiser of 2012 will take place at the former Mazer’s Discount Home Store on Greensprings Avenue in Homewood from April 12 to 15. More than 100,000 plants will be available for purchase. More than 7,000 people attended last year’s sale, and similar crowds are expected this year. Birmingham Botanical Gardens hosts both a fall and a spring sale annually. The spring sale helps further the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ mission of promoting public knowledge and appreciation of plants, gardens and the environment and also providing plant consumers with spring planting advice from expects. Also, each purchase supports a worthwhile cause. More than 1,000 of the signature plant for 2012, the Senorita Rosalita® Cleome hybrid ‘Inncleosr,’ will be available for only $5 each. This year’s sale will feature three special events. The annual Preview Party and Members-Only Sale will kick off the

sale on Thursday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m. The Preview Party will allow guests to shop early, enjoy great food, wine and a free Senorita Rosalita®. Then, on Friday, the Junior Board of Birmingham Botanical Gardens will present the first ever Tunes ‘n Blooms. Admission to the Preview Party is $45 in advance and $50 at the door. Members can attend Tunes ‘n Blooms for $10 and non-members for $15. Guests can shop while Will and Sarah Mason provide musical entertainment, and drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served. The public sale will be Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission to the public sale is free, and volunteer opportunities are available. The sale is sponsored in part by Dunn Real Estate, Terra Equities, inBham, Fox 6, Leaf & Petal at The Gardens, Birmingham Home & Garden and Valpak of Central Alabama. For more information, go to www.bbgardens. org/springplantsale.

Funk, fish and family fun Things will get loud and fishy in Crestline Village this month as the Autism Society of Alabama and Mitchell’s Place host the Funky Fish Fry on Saturday, April 28. The event will be held at the lawn across from Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Invite your family and friends to spend a sunny spring afternoon listening to funky music while sipping on a cold drink and indulging in the South’s best fried catfish

presented by Ezell’s Fish Camp. There will be a fun kid area with games, prizes and face painting available for children as well. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 per person at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Autism Society of Alabama and Mitchell’s Place. Both organizations work to improve the lives of families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information, visit www. funkyfishfry.com

Junior League Bargain Carousel

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Bargain Carousel Steering Committee. Front row: Emily Brown, Ashelynn Falkenburg, Chloe Collins, Jordan Caudell. Back row: Emily Jensen, Leigh Haver, Elizabeth Burgess.

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Spring is upon us, which means that it is time for the Junior League of Birmingham’s annual Bargain Carousel. Known throughout the city for unique finds and great buys, the thrift sale has been a marquee fundraising event for the League, pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars to programs supported by the League. As in previous years, the event will kick off with the Bargain Bash on Friday, April 27. At 6 p.m. doors open for the Patron Party, allowing first access to the sale. At 7 p.m. admission begins for other Bash ticket holders and winds down by 10 p.m. Food and drinks are provided, along with live music by Allan Barlow and Jon Campbell. Of particular interest is the silent auction, which features everything from vacation stays to exclusive artwork to merchandise from area retailers. Bargain Bash tickets may be purchased in advance at www.jlbonline.com or at the door the night of the event. Patron Party tickets are $40, and Bargain Bash tickets are $30. Guests are given the first opportunity to shop the sale, including departments featuring new merchandise, heirloom and antique pieces as well as thousands of gently used items including appliances, furniture, home goods, tools, outdoor furniture, clothing and artwork. Shoppers at the Patrons party are often seen nabbing

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By ALLISON MARLOW great buys for college students, lake houses, and “project” pieces. Guests of the fundraising event pay double price for merchandise The two-day event for the general public will kick off Saturday, April 28 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 29 from 1– 5 p.m at the old Mazer’s space located at 816 Green Springs Highway in Homewood. Admission Saturday is $5, and the sale’s reputation results in lines forming in the pre-daylight hours. Sunday offers extra bargains with all remaining items being discounted 50 percent. Tickets are available for purchase Friday, April 27 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the sale location. “We are excited about the location this year,” said Leigh Haver, Bargain Carousel Chairman. “The Homewood location makes it easily accessible to people across the metro area, as well as for our team of volunteers.” “We have hundreds of Birmingham League members who have been working to prepare for this event since last fall, and even beyond. It takes a huge commitment from a great number of people to make this event a success.” Proceeds from the event go directly to supporting the JLB’s mission to improve the lives of women and children throughout Birmingham.

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Village Living

| April 2012 |

Find these Mountain Brook artists at the Mountain Brook Art Association Show

European holiday

Viki Denaburg. Photos by Brittney Harrison.

By BRITTNEY HARRISON Coloring the sea A makeup artist and painter, Viki Denaburg has always followed her passions. “I’ve always had an eye for color,” she said. Yet it wasn’t until her sons were older that Denaburg took up painting full time, “I found something I wanted to do every day,” she said. For the last decade Denaburg has been painting large abstract and contemporary landscapes. After graduating with a degree in fashion merchandising, Denaburg spent her

early twenties working as a makeup artist for Neiman Marcus models in Atlanta. She then worked as an account executive for Estee Lauder traveling around Alabama. Denaburg uses acrylic paint mixed with other mediums to create texture in her landscapes. She is best known for her recreation of the scenic stretch of 30A in Seaside, Fla. Viki Denaburg’s work can be seen and purchased locally at Studio On Linden and Art Alley in Homewood. To learn more about her work, visit www.vikidenaburg. com or www.artstudiosafebook.com.

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Lynn Briggs

Each year Lynn Briggs travels overseas to capture the beauty of old and new. She has been painting with water colors since her college days at the University of Alabama while majoring in art. Between teaching and raising three children, she was unable to paint as often as she liked. “I would dabble a little but when you start you can’t stop, “she said. It wasn’t until her youngest daughter, Lacey, now a Samford Alum, had started high school that Briggs truly began painting again. Since then Briggs’ work has been featured in various art shows. Her watercolor paintings mainly reflect scenes from various trips she and her husband have taken to Europe. This summer the couple is looking forward to celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in Provence, France. Briggs is also involved with Mountain Brook Community Education where she paints every Wednesday morning with other adult artists in the area. For more information on Lynn Briggs and her watercolor art, visit www. lynnbriggsart.weebly.com.

Mary Mellen

Keeping the tradition

In 2001 Mary Mellen came across her grandmother’s century-old sketch book and was forever changed. Although she comes from a family line of artists, it wasn’t until later in life that Mellen discovered her adoration for painting. In addition to her family’s connection to art, many of Mellen’s friends were taking art classes in Mountain Brook, where she has lived since graduating from Auburn. Encouraged, Mellen gave art a try. “It was a family thing,” she said, “I never thought I’d be able to do it, but now I love it!” Mellen uses acrylics to create her contemporary landscapes. From time to time her paintings are finished with a glaze to give off more of an oil look. More than a decade into her new endeavor, Mellen is constantly reminded and inspired by the kindred connection she and her grandmother share. Mary Mellen’s impressionistic artwork can be seen at Mulberry Heights Antiques in Mountain Brook Village.

See Artist | page 25

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| April 2012 |

Village Living

Two MBE teachers take learning outdoors By HILARY ROSS Bill Andrews and Suzanne Andrews are not only partners in fifth grade education at Mountain Brook Elementary, teaching history and science, respectively, but they also are married and share a passion for camping in the great outdoors. It is this passion they want others to learn by inviting ninth through twelfth grade students to go “unplugged” with them this summer. Bill Andrews grew up in Mountain Brook, attending MBE, MBJH and MBHS and was an admittedly quiet, shy student. However, in high school, friends got him interested in camping, and he has loved the outdoors ever since. The annual fifth grade Camp Alpine trip inspired a new summer camping experience called Treeline Expeditions. Two summer backpacking expeditions will give high school students an opportunity to join the Andrews on two-week explorations of the beautiful Pecos Wilderness near Sante Fe, N.M. Also accompanying the group will be their children, Alexandra, 16 and Ryder, 15, both students at Homewood High School. When asked about the name of their company, they responded that the “treeline” is a natural separation in the wilderness. Below the line, the ecosystem below being viable, healthy and more comfortable. However, above the treeline, life changes, and resources are fewer and the land more barren. This name is to parallel how students live comfortably at home with a wealth of resources, but when placed in an unfamiliar environment, the choices they must make and problems they must solve allow them to adapt and grow. Learning outside the classroom walls allows students to leave their comfort zones physically, emotionally and mentally and gives them a chance to shine in a different light.

Bill and Suzanne Andrews with Alexandra and Ryder at Park City, Utah. Photo courtesy of the Andrews.

“Shy kids, like I was,” said Bill, “can learn self-reliance and self-confidence and develop leadership skills when placed in a setting other than the traditional classroom.” Why the Pecos Wilderness? The snow will be melted and daytime temperatures will be in the 70s with night time lows in the 40s. Additionally, it has easy access to the airport in Albuquerque, and its diversity showcases lush, forested valleys contrasted with beautiful vistas atop the many alpine peaks. Offering two sessions, June 14-27 (only one spot left) and July 1-14, the camping adventure is open to all high school students. Bill has developed qualifications for being a leader in the wilderness with his 20+ years in field experience. Additionally,

he is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Yukon Backpacking for Outdoor Educators and is trained and certified as a Wilderness First Responder, requiring recertification every two years. He has taught 14 years in the classroom and is Director of the Lookout Mountain Educational Experience. Suzanne has taught in the classroom for 21 years and is an instructor at the Lookout Mountain Educational Experience. Their family has participated in numerous similar expeditions to the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Weminuche Wilderness and Pisgah National Forest, among others. For more information and itineraries, visit www.treeline-expeditions. com, find them on facebook, or email treelineexpeditions@gmail.com

Prospective Parent Open House Thursday, April 12, 2012 9:00 a.m. Please join us!

Contact Judy McDonald, jmcdonald@highlandsschool.org, for more information. Highlands School, an Independent School celebrating 53 years, is dedicated to academic excellence while providing an enriching childhood experience for students from Four-Year-Old Preschool through the Eighth Grade. 4901 Old Leeds Road, Birmingham, AL 35213, (205)9569731, www.highlandsschool.org

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Village Living

| April 2012 |

Children’s Art Guild holds annual fashion show By JENNIFER GRAY Approximately 250 people attended the annual Children’s Arts Guild (CAG) spring fashion show at the Country Club of Birmingham on Tuesday, March 13. Barbara Cooney served as emcee, and 71 children modeled. Clothing ranged from whimsical party wear to heirloom Easter attire to sportswear and resort clothing. Under the leadership of Laura Canterbury, CAG president, fashion show chair Morgan Cook and co-chair Emily Pruet, this event helped raise funds for Children’s Dance Foundation. Individual contributions, corporate sponsors and the Heaven’s Heroes program contributed to the fundraising. Guests enjoyed tea and mimosas along with a delicious luncheon as they watched the parade of children on the runway. Many children walked in honor or in memory of their grandmothers, many of whom were present at the show. Children’s Arts Guild is a support organization for Children’s Dance Foundation (CDF), founded in 1975 by Jennie Robertson, Virginia Sanford Donovan and Mary Conyers Cooper. The mission of CDF is to provide quality dance education to students of all ages—using dance to build skills, gain confidence, spark creativity and change lives. Each week, CDF travels to more than 20 sites in Birmingham to serve at-risk children and children with special needs and has more than 2000 students of all ages and abilities that dance in their community arts center.

Margaret Anne Abele, Mary Russell Wood and Gracie Meadows get ready to model in the Children’s Arts Guild fashion show. Photo by Jennifer Gray.

When the music starts, problems fade, and students grow empowered. Guild members working on the show include Staci Graphos, Laura Pemberton, Gina Thomas, Laura Dillion, Mindi Keller, Virginia Volman, Jessica Naftel, Leah Abele, Beth Wood, Jennifer Gray, Anna Emblom, Natalie Wright, Julie Stewart, Kelly Moffatt, Richelle Simmons, Julie Sandner, Parker Spees, Emily Anderson, Meredith Spencer, Lucia Tabb, Greer Cotton, Casey Horn, Beth Bailey, Keri Windle, Allison Ingram, Leslie Robinson and Laura McDonald.

Food trucks partner for fine eating and a good cause

Jacqueline Dillon DeMarco, PhD Clinical Psychologist

Laney Maxey, Allene Neighbors, Lella Carl Hammiter and Lee Hurley are helping to plan the Food Truck Round Up for May 12.

Food lovers will think they have died and gone to culinary heaven on Saturday, May 12, when several of Birmingham’s most popular food trucks join forces for The Food Truck Roundup, a carnival of cuisines to benefit PreSchool Partners. Five food trucks and several restaurants and breweries will converge from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to whip out their most beloved dishes and beverages underneath the Alabama sky. The event, presented by PreSchool Partners Executive Board, Young Partners Board and Women’s Committee, will take place behind the Mountain Brook Mall, located at 2816 Culver Road, in the back parking lot of Leaf ‘N Petal plant shop. PreSchool Partners is dedicated to preparing at-risk three and four yearolds, and their parents, for kindergarten in the Birmingham City Schools. Students, who may not otherwise get a preschool education, receive a solid educational foundation. The menu will include several of the trucks’ specialties. Shindigs Catering will offer its pork belly buns, crispy catfish with spicy Selma slaw and sweet soy-braised short ribs. Cantina On Wheels will dish out their much-loved pork, chicken and

fish tacos. Spoonfed Grill plans to serve up their southern soul bowls with roasted sweet potatoes, collards, pulled pork as well as chorizo and orange-scented kale quesadillas. Those with a sweet tooth can sample desserts from Goodie’s Ice Cream and Dreamcakes Cupcakes trucks. In addition, Ezell’s Catfish Cabin will be there with their fried catfish and hush puppies, as will Sneaky Pete’s famous hotdogs and beverages by Coca-Cola, Good People Brewing Company and Supreme Beverage Company. The family-friendly event will also feature live music by The Drennen Brothers, kiddie entertainment by Whistler the Clown and drawings for prizes throughout the day. Tickets are $20 and are available at www.preschoolpartners.org. Admission gets you three tickets redeemable for food at any of the trucks and a reusable cup for beverages. Additional tickets will be available for purchase; kids 10 and under get in free. For more information, contact Allene Neighbors, Director of Development, at 936-3754.

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| April 2012 |

Village Living

Decorators’ ShowHouse 2012 Emmet O’Neal Library Events

Turtle Rock Estate in Vestavia Hills will be featured as this year’s Decorators’ ShowHouse. For the first time in ShowHouse history, the home will be sold at an auction during the event. Photo courtesy of the Symphony Volunteer Council of the Alabama Symphonic Association, Inc.

The Symphony Volunteer Council of the Alabama Symphonic Association, Inc. will hold its annual Decorators’ ShowHouse at Turtle Rock Estate located in Vestavia Hills. The ShowHouse opens April 21 and continues through May 6. A first in ShowHouse history, this luxury home and gardens will be sold at auction on May 3 at 6 p.m. during the ShowHouse event. Turtle Rock Estate is over 10,000 square feet and features five bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The home includes a wine cellar, home theater, regulation-size half basketball court with mount ball rack, and a five-station climbing wall. The home is located in a beautiful setting with exceptionally large natural rock formations and a 35-foot waterfall in the backyard. Water falls from a massive

natural rock formation into a stone creek that meanders along the length of the property forming two mini-waterfalls on the lower patios. The Decorators’ ShowHouse tour will include over 21 decorated areas in the home. Tickets are $15 presale or $20 at the door and benefit the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Lunch is served daily from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for $13 and includes a beverage. A sweet shop will provide treats for $3. ShowHouse hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Friday evenings, 6 – 9 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sundays, 1 – 5 p.m. For more information regarding the home and parking/shuttle details, call 8245198 or visit www.showhouse-AL.com.

Adults 4/3- Thyme to Read-EOL Book Group discussing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare, 6p.m. @ The Library at the Botanical Gardens 4/4- Brown Bag Lunch series, first in a 10 part film series on amazing historic landmarks around the world, 12:30 p.m. 4/5- Smart Investing @ EOL with Dr. Andreas Rauterkus, Saving for Retirement, 6:30 p.m. 4/9- Great Books Book Group discussing a selected short story 4/10- The Bookies Book Group discussing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare, 10 a.m. 4/11- Brown Bag Lunch series, a documentary film commemorating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, 12:30 p.m.. 4/17- Tech Tuesdays, librarians will be on hand to demo ereaders and other new technologies in the Library lobby, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 4/17- Genre Reading Group, etiquette, 6:30 p.m. 4/18- Brown Bag Lunch series, EOL librarians Katie & Holley will preview the hot new books to be published this spring, 12:30 p.m. 4/19- Third Thursdays at Dyron’s Lowcountry, a portion of the proceeds benefit the Library, 4:30-10 p.m. 4/25- Brown Bag Lunch series, a film on the Bronte sisters, 12:30 p.m. 4/28- Knit & Knibble, all crafts and skill levels welcome, 2-3:30 p.m. Teens 4/2- TAB, monthly meeting of the members of the Teen Advisory Board, 5-6 p.m. 4/6- Game On! Super Smash Bros Brawl, 4:30p.m.-6:30 p.m. 4/13- Felt crafts for the cool at heart, we’ll make stuffed animals, fashion accessories, etc., 4-6 p.m.

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Children Mondays *Toddler Tales Story Time, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Chess Club, 6 p.m. Tuesdays Together Time Story Time, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Library Out Loud Story Time, 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays *Mother Goose Story Time, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Thursdays *Patty Cake Story Time, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. SNaP, 3:30 p.m. Saturdays Family Story Time with Mr. Mac, 10:30 a.m. Special Events 4/4- After-School Special: “Peter Rabbit” by Bits n’ Pieces Theater, 3:30 p.m. 4/10- Family Night: “The Little Engine That Could” by B’ham Children’s Theater, 5:30 p.m. 4/17- Bookmania*: The Mighty Miss Malone, 6 p.m. 4/18- Savvy Surfing: Accessing E-books, 3:30 4/19- Bookmania*: The Mighty Miss Malone, 6 p.m. *Space is limited; please call 879-0497 or visit www.eolib.org to register. For more information about any of our programs, you may call the library at 445-1121 and find us online at www.eolib. org, blogging at www.eolib.blogspot. com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ emmetoneallibrary, and on Twitter at @ eolib.

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Village Living

Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

A God-shaped hole

Have you ever heard the term “Godshaped hole”? I heard it for the first time last year, and I knew immediately that I’d share it with my readers one day. In essence, a “God-shaped hole” describes the spiritual space inside all of us that only God can fill. He created us for eternity, and our hearts innately desire to connect with Him. We yearn for this relationship, yet we try stuffing our Godshaped hole with earthly pleasures—work, family, passions, possessions, sports...the list goes on. Sometimes the fit is completely off, like forcing a square peg in a round hole. Other times our earthly pleasures work like putty, filling the gap temporarily. We think we’re happy until one day, without warning, the void reopens, leaving us back at square one. In thinking about my God-shaped hole, I’m reminded of a Bible study I did many years ago where the small group leader had us name the idols in our lives. Initially I thought I didn’t have any because I’d worshipped one God my entire life. Bowing to a false one had never crossed my mind. But as women started spouting answers, I remembered how broad an umbrella “idol” can be. Anything that overshadows our relationship with God is game. One woman in my group admitted, “My idol is my daughter. I worship the ground she walks on.” Although I didn’t have children at the time, I related to this. I could picture myself down the road, so wrapped up in parenting that everything else took a backseat. It was then I realized that even good things created by God— motherhood, for example—can become idols if they consume us. And so I pose the question: What idols do you stuff in your God-shaped hole? What great loves do you pursue that, over time, still leave you with a nagging

dissatisfaction? For me, two things come to mind: my family and my writing. These are my passions, areas where I want to excel. They take up a lot of energy and time, often leaving me too drained for God. He gets what’s leftover—which is unremarkable, to say the least. Of course, I fall victim to material idols, too, although I have grown to realize how meaningless “stuff” is. Rarely do I love anything as much as I do at the time of purchase. My infatuation with inanimate objects fades quickly, and the only way to get that thrill back is to buy something new—another piece of furniture, another dress, another bag or pair of shoes. It’s a dangerous cycle that’s easy to get caught up in, and it takes conscious effort to stay in check. To me, a God-shaped hole explains why someone facing some terrible misfortune can be at peace while someone with abundant riches can feel hollow and alone. People with nothing have nowhere to put their trust except in God. Out of putty, they fill their hole with Him, inspiring others with their show of faith. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has “planted eternity in the human heart.” We were created to be with God, and no earthly idols can fulfill us like Him. Even our best relationships—with our spouse, our mom, our sister or best friend—will disappoint us and fail to measure up sometimes. Only one thing can fill the God-shaped hole, and that is a relationship with God. As we prepare for Easter, may we all remember our God-shaped hole and rejoice in the Savior who died on the cross to fill this void inside us. Through Him we have a means to eternity. In Him, and only Him, we are complete. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four with a background in PR, writing and photography. Visit her website at www.karikampakis.com, find her on Facebook and Twitter, or contact her at kari@ karikampakis.com.

Annual Bo Johnson Zoo Party and Golf Tournament The Seventh Annual Bo Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament Celebration Party will be held Sunday, April 22, 5-9 p.m. at Birmingham Children’s Zoo. The event will feature music by Jimmy and Laine, food by Full Moon BBQ, a silent auction and children’s activities. Everyone, golfers and nongolfers alike, is welcome to attend. The party is held each year in memory of Bo Johnson, who passed away from esophageal cancer in 2005. The events have raised more than $500,000 for cancer research since 2006. All proceeds from the party and golf tournament benefit the UAB

| April 2012 |

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Comprehensive Cancer Center. The golf tournament will be held April 23 at Highlands Golf Course. Registration starts at 12 p.m., and lunch will be provided. The zoo party costs $30 per person, and children under age 17 as well as tournament players and one guest are admitted free. To purchase tickets, contact Jean Morrison at jmorrison@bojohnson.org. For more information about the events, visit www.bojohnson.org or the Bo Johnson Charitable Foundation Facebook page or call 335-7100.

Birmingham Music Club presents second Bravo!Birmingham Due to the success of the 2011 production of Bravo!Birmingham, Alabama artists who have achieved national or international recognition will return to Samford University’s Wright Center for the new 2012 show on Friday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. The show, presented by the Birmingham Music Club, presents Birmingham celebrities in 90 minutes of live entertainment.

The program is a fundraiser for the Birmingham Music Club’s artist series and the BMC Guild’s music scholarships. To purchase tickets, call the Samford box office at 726-2853 (open Mon.-Fri., 9-5), or go online to www.samford.edu/wrightcenter or www.bhammusicclub.org. Prices are $45, $35 and $25. Children 12 and under and balcony seats $10. A $5 discount per ticket is offered for groups of 10 or more.

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| April 2012 | Village Sports

Village Sports

Spring sports start at MB High School year already, achieving his 300th win as the Spartans coach against Pelham. “The game did not really feel too different from the others,” Webb said. “It is still a lot of fun to be involved with the team.” The Lady Spartans have also started the season strong with a few big wins, including one over rival Vestavia. Juniors Kayla Dowler and Liz Moore, at striker and goalkeeper, respectively, lead the team. Dowler scored a hat trick against Altamont. “Kayla has been a great addition,” head coach Scott Flowers said. “She is the team’s leading scorer at the moment. Liz has been fantastic in goal.”

By WILL HIGHTOWER Last year, Mountain Brook finished spring with four state championships. This spring, every team is trying to do the same, with many new sports starting in the last few months. Tennis The girls’ tennis team has started the 2012 season as the defending state champions. Sarah Bowron and Carlee Petro lead the Lady Spartans, and Farris Ann Luce and Bowron are team captains. The team had no trouble with the early part of their schedule, going 5-0 including victories over Vestavia and Spain Park. The boys‘ tennis team is led by a talented senior class, including Trey Carter, who has committed to play for North Carolina State University next year. Senior Eric Buchalter teams up with Carter to form a fearsome doubles team. Carter and senior Nelson Jetmundsen are team captains. The boys also started the season strong with the exception of a tough loss to rival Vestavia, who won the state title last year. The tennis teams also hosted the third MB Kids Clinic and had more than 30 kids from the community attended. Team members ran the clinic and head coach Susan Farlow called it “a huge success.” Track The strong Spartan track program is looking good once again this season. On the girls’ side, multiple girls lead the team in many events, including sophomore

Junior Dowling Briggs chases after a ball against Homewood. Photo courtesy Image Arts.

Sophomore Ben Shearer. Photo courtesy of Laurie Hereford.

Rachael Reddy in the 800, senior Elizabeth Coleman in the pole vault, freshman Julia Leonard in the high jump and a strong group of distance runners. The boys lost their fastest runner, Charlie Forbes, to an unfortunate ligament injury in his ankle. However, the distance runners are setting rare times, even sometimes placing four boys under 4:30 in the mile. Junior Payton Ballard dominates distance events, running miles around 4:20 and leading the 4x400 relay. Some football players are still recovering from injuries, so the boys team looks to pick up steam as they head further into the season.

season strong, including wins over HewittTrussville, John Carroll and Homewood. Senior pitcher Miller Bonds has signed to play with Charleston Southern next year. The softball team has beaten several teams to begin the season, including a 13-0 shutout over John Carroll and a 14-6 beatdown of Homewood.

Baseball and Softball The baseball team has started the

Soccer The boys’ soccer team is in a season of reloading after losing Nathan Diehl, who is on scholarship at the University of North Carolina. Senior Michael Waldrum, a two-time team captain, plays striker and occasionally goalie and recently recorded his 100th varsity appearance. However, head coach Joe Webb has had a memorable

Golf As golf season begins, the girls are trying to defend their state championship and the boys are shooting for success. Dalton Skinner, who will play golf next year at Montevallo, leads the boys team, consistently shooting rounds in the low 70s. Head coach Benny Eaves called Skinner the most consistent player on the team. Behind Skinner is a young team who are trying to find their identity as the season progresses. The girls are led by Carolyn and Meg McCalley, who helped the team finish third in the Auburn Tournament. Wrestling Also worth noting is the success of the wrestling team at the state championship two months ago. Gene Thagard, Thomas Thagard, Sam Bridell and Alex DeVilliers all placed at state.

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Village Sports | April 2012 |

Spartans win shootout

Front row: Paul Roth, Alex McCullumsmith, Nick Gravlee, Brother Swagler, Mike Madden, Adam Elrefai. Back row: Wes Fall, Duncan Mathews, Dow Briggs, Michael Waldrum, Jim Madden, John McGiveran, Brooks Glover, Hunter Ross, Blanton Stagno, Austin Garrett, Daniel Rich, Reid Grant, Ian Ennis, Head Coach Joe Webb and Assistant Coach Aaron Oseas. Photo by Hilary Ross.

By HILARY ROSS The MBHS Boys’ Soccer team participated in the 2012 Lakeshore Shootout, one of the largest high school varsity soccer tournaments in the Southeast hosted by Spain Park High School at many local venues. Celebrating its 20th year, the tournament registered 32 boys’ teams from every corner of Alabama and divided them into two divisions. The following weekend, 24 girls’ teams competed. In match play, MBHS defeated TrinityMontgomery 2-0, Collinsville 1-0 and East Limestone, 2-1 to advance to the semifinals against Pelham. During a blinding

rain storm, the Spartans defeated Pelham, 3-0, to earn a spot in the finals against Arab. With rain continuing to pour, MBHS held off a tenacious Arab team, 2-1, to claim the championship in their Lakeshore Shootout division. Michael Waldrum was named Tournament MVP, Reid Grant was named Defensive MVP, and they were joined by Nick Gravlee on the All Tournament team. Head Coach Joe Webb and Assistant Coach Aaron Oseas oversee the boys’ soccer program.

Over-The-Mountain champions for the fourth consecutive year

Mary Rose Rutledge, Caroline Keller, Hannah Bartels, Anna Windle, KayKay Benck, Lacey Jeffcoat and Sarah Kate Horsley with coaches Collier Ogilvie and Lizzie Jeffcoat. Photo courtesy of Tom Bartels

The girls sixth grade Mountain Brook Spartans Over-the-Mountain basketball team ended this year’s championship season, and the girls’ OTM careers, with an overtime victory over the sixth grade Hoover Bucs. The win capped an incredible run for this group of Mountain

Brook girls. The team was formed in 2008 when the girls were in third grade, and they remained undefeated in OTM regularseason and tournament play for four consecutive years. The team was coached by Lizzie Jeffcoat, with assistance from MBHS Basketball Standout Collier Ogilvie.

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Bottom row: Marbury Cox, Wilder Hines, George Scofield, Charlie McKimmon, James Barron, Pierce Austin. Second row: Jake Thompson, A.J. Sands, Sam Corley, Patch Lyman, Bibb Albright, John McMillan, Tom Fischer, Brant Hawkins, Terry Coner Jr, Tompkins Richardson, Camby Traywick. Third row: James Lyman, Scott Thompson, Terry Coner, Gordy Morris, Will McIlvaine. Photo courtesy of Elisabeth Lyman.

Two Mountain Brook travel basketball teams, Mountain Brook Bulls and Mountain Brook Dream Team, played each other in the Second Grade North

Shelby Basketball Association Tournament Championship. The Bulls won, but both teams had a great time.

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| April 2012 |

Village Living

LANE PARKE from pg 1

years of work on the plans. Jeffrey Brewer, architect at Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, said he hopes they will be able to start on the project in the fall. In his presentation, Brewer outlined the details of the plan and how it conforms to the Village Masterplan and offers a comprehensive approach to the whole property. He also described how the plan would be under a strict set of restrictions and constraints in its contract between the contractor and the city. Jeff Colvin of Walker Parking Consultants explained how the plan provides 1,201 parking spots, which is more than the peak demand they calculated of 1,136. Darrell Skipper and Richard Caudle of Skipper Consulting went over their traffic study of the existing village and how they plan to address current issues and mitigate any traffic created by the development. Based on the 22 percent scale back of the Lane Parke plan, a new traffic light will no longer be necessary. They plan to widen Lane Park Road and Culver Road and add a left turn lane onto Montevallo Road for access into the development. Skipper is continuing to work with the city’s traffic consultants, Sain Associates, on unresolved details of the traffic plan. Jim Meades of Sain Associates said final issues with crosswalks, intersections and sight distances should be resolved by the

April 2 meeting. The presenters took questions from Planning Commission members. Aspects of the plan addressed include: -The team will make every attempt to complete the inn project. However, if it does not come to fruition, the space will be converted for residential use. -The Woodland Park in the residential area would be an extension of the Jemison Trail. -A crosswalk is planned at the north end to connect to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens across Lane Park Road. There will be three additional crosswalks to connect the development to the village: one in the southwest that parallels Cahaba Road, a second at Culver Road and Petticoat Lane and a third that is still in the works that will connect where Sneaky Pete’s is currently located in the village. - The developers would like to start this fall with the north end. The first phases of residential and part of the commercial development behind the current shopping center would take about 18 months. The last phase would begin after that and take about a year. Visit www.villagelivingonline.com to learn more about the Lane Parke plans, see images of the plan, find out the results of the April 2 meeting and more. You can also visit LaneParke.info for more information on the development.

What do you think about the new Lane Parke plan? Share your opinions about the new Lane Parke plan at www.villagelivingonline.com or on our Facebook page.

“I am pleased that there is only one parking deck instead of three and that the density is so much less. I think it looks really smart to include all the acres. Overall, it’s a much better plan. I think they have worked really hard with the community, and I applaud them for that.” -Amy Carter, Mountain Brook City Council member

“In the beginning I thought it was too big. I wasn’t sure how the traffic would affect Cahaba road. But the plan is good, [traffic] circulation is good and I’m pretty pleased.” –Bob Moody, former Mountain Brook City Council member

“It’s better for the village as far as income from different shops and stores. There’s more space and more things for people to do.” – Amie Woody, Mountain Brook resident

Crestline Easter Egg Hunt The merchants of Crestline Village are organizing the annual Easter Egg Hunt for April 7 at 10 a.m. The hunt will take place in the field across from the Emmet O’Neal

Library, 50 Oak Street. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos after the egg hunt. For more information, call 870-7772.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. I like the idea of nice new buildings that I know will be tastefully architected and with interesting little stores.” –Rodney Kubicek, Mountain Brook resident

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| April 2012 |

Village Living

MBJH Lady Spartans Softball

MBJH Softball Team

By HILARY ROSS Softball is underway at MBJH. Fifteen girls were rostered to the Lady Spartans Softball Team by head coach Brook Gibbon. “We are an extremely young team that improves everyday,” Gibbons said. “Our goal is to learn and improve to prepare for the upcoming Metro Tournament.” Catch the Lady Spartans in action at home against Oak Mountain at 4:30 on April 4 and again versus Homewood same time a week later on April 11. The Metro

Tournament will be held at Liberty Park on April 13-14. Team members are Sophie Barnes, Morgan Brown, Carlee Dawkins, Elizabeth DeAtkine, Virginia Farrar, Katie Foy, Ann Chapman Haynes, Caroline Keller, Haley Lewis, Allye Lott, Elaine McDonald, Caroline Moore, Sarah Winston Nathan, Rachel Pugh, Hollon Skinner and Cele Sullivan. Assistant coach is Andrew Gunn, and team manager is Carter Alexander.

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BUSA girls win Vulcan Cup BY HILARY ROSS The Birmingham United Soccer Association 2001 Elite Red Girls’ Team recently won the championship in the Under 11 Copper Division of the Red Diamond Vulcan Cup hosted in Birmingham, Alabama. The team defeated four teams from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and

Tennessee to claim the championship title. The final was a hard-fought contest that ended in a tie in regulation. Two overtime periods followed with no score, leading to a 17 penalty kick shootout to decide the match. Our girls came out ahead on PKs and won the championship.

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Front row: Abigail Lowe (Altamont), Hope Methvin (Crestline), Emma Blakely (Crestline), Holly Brown (Brookwood Forest), Megan Butler (Chelsea Middle School), Ella Nichols (Cherokee Bend School). Back row: Holli Chapman (Brookwood Forest), Caroline Holland (Highlands Day School), Hallie Campbell (Oak Mountain Middle School), Kathleen Odum (Brookwood Forest), Anna Balzli (Brookwood Forest), Coach Peter Gamble.

Mountain Brook Predators dominate By HILARY ROSS The Mountain Brook fifth grade girls’ basketball team, the Predators, won its third consecutive Over the Mountain regular season championship and rallied to finish second in the tournament after losing starter and key player Ellen Dulin with an

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injury. The team posted an impressive 34-5 record over the past three years with three of those losses to Amateur Athletic Union teams, which recruit players from several cities. The girls have played together since second grade.

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Front row: Claire Kimberlin, Emma Blakely, Sarah Kate Crafton. Back Row: Emily Henderson, Elizabeth Hornak, Cami Curtis, Coach Robert Hornak, DiDi Bird, Ellen Dulin, Whitton Bumgarner. Photo courtesy of Robert Hornak.

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Village Living

Read-alikes and view-alikes from Potter to Downton Making People Happy For 22 Years, It’s An Institution!

By HOLLEY WESLEY, EMMET O’NEAL LIBRARY I remember when the Harry Potter craze started gearing up, and anticipation was at a fever-pitch between books. That is the time when I began to really appreciate the wonder of the read-alike. Folks young and old loved the Hogwarts world and wanted another book that would transport them in the same way. Young readers who grew up with the stories wanted fiction for adults with the same characteristics, and books like that are being published even now, several years out from the end of Rowlings’ blockbuster series. I’ve witnessed the same thing happen with powerhouse young adult franchises like Stephenie Meyers’ Twilight saga and Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy. It happens a lot when a movie adaptation is made, but that certainly isn’t a requirement. Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner absolutely exploded in popularity long before the movie was made. I might even go so far as to credit his book with igniting a new phase of popularity in multicultural

fiction that Steig Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo may be considered a part of even today. Currently, the PBS Masterpiece TV mini-series Downton Abbey is enjoying a heyday. When season two ended earlier this spring, we had many requests not only for DVDs of the show, but also for books about everything from Edwardian social life and customs to World War I to the complexities of inheritance law. If you’ve not yet had a chance to get on the Downton Abbey bandwagon, drop us a line via phone, email, or on our Facebook wall, and we’ll get you hooked on this intriguing miniseries. In the meantime, drop by the library for a list of read- and view-alikes to tide you over until season three makes its way to American viewers. For more information about the library’s regularly scheduled programs, see the library’s calendar in this issue of Village Living, visit us online at www.eolib.org, or give us a call at 445-1121.

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Week ending March 8 This past week we had one home burglary and no UBEVs (Unlawful Breaking and Entering Vehicles). The home burglary occurred on East Fairway Drive (Crestline) between March 2 and March 4. The thief entered the home through a window and bypassed the alarm. The resident had no motion sensors. The thief searched the master bedroom but was unable to locate the resident’s jewelry. Nothing of value was taken. Summary of miscellaneous incidents A lady had a cleaning company working at her home and spotted the company employee exiting her home with a laptop computer. Not long after that, she discovered that her laptop had disappeared. The employee has been identified with the help of the company. We took a harassment report when a bank teller refused to cash a check for a man, and he made a threatening remark to her. The check he wanted to cash was from another bank. A police officer was answering a call when he was bit by the family dog. The fire department administered first aid, and his pants were replaced. We had a case of criminal mischief at Cahaba Village. The rear window of a vehicle was broken under unusual circumstances. The window was tinted, and there was nothing of value in the vehicle. We could not determine what caused the window to break. We took a criminal mischief report in Crestline when a woman’s car was vandalized. The car was keyed, and the victim suspects it may have been retaliation from a teenager she had reported last week committing another offense. A man reported that the electrical panel on his residence was damaged and he suspects that his ex-wife is the culprit. A teenager from Bessemer was arrested for shoplifting at Macy’s. A teenager had an argument with his parents, and he left home. The parents called the police to report him missing. He was located a short time later, and he returned to his home. A mailbox on Rockdell Lane was knocked down with a large rock. A hit-and-run incident occurred on Macy’s lot. A vehicle damaged the victim’s vehicle and left the scene. There were no witnesses.

An electrical panel belonging to Alagasco was vandalized, and parts of it were stolen. This panel was located at a house on Sherwood Road . Some aluminum scaffold boards were stolen from a construction site on North Woodridge Road. The boards were taken between February 1 and February 10. Week ending March 1 This week we had one home burglary and 2 UBEVs (Unlawful Breaking and Entering Vehicles). The home burglary occurred on West Montcrest Drive (Crestline) between Jan. 24 and Feb. 21. The thief entered the home through a basement window. The master bedroom was ransacked, and there is evidence that he rummaged through the rest of the house. Jewelry was taken. There was no alarm. The first UBEV occurred on Greenbriar Lane (Crestline) during the night of Feb. 23. The thief broke the driver’s side window and took a purse, wallet, guns and credit cards. The car was locked. The second UBEV occurred on Spring Valley Road (north end of city) after 10 p.m. during the night of Feb. 27. The vehicle was not locked and an iPod was taken. Summary of miscellaneous incidents A hit and run accident occurred on Oak Street. An individual backed her vehicle into a parked vehicle and left the scene. We received a tag number, and the suspect has been located. We took a harassment report when a woman met a man on Match.com and after they started communicating, he started sending the victim disturbing messages. We had a case of criminal mischief on Eaton Road. A large stone was thrown through the window of a vehicle. We took an assault report in Crestline where a man and his vehicle were shot with a BB gun. The teenager who committed this act was identified and located. Over the weekend some unknown culprits entered the Mountain Brook Junior High and destroyed some electronic equipment. We have determined that a laptop recovered on Brookleeds Road was taken in a home burglary in Vestavia. A business in an office building on Montclair Road was entered during the night of Feb. 28, but nothing was taken. A door to a lab was pried open.

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Village Living

| April 2012 |

Mountain Brook Summer Camps By CRAIG KLEIMEYER Summer offers an opportunity to try new things, delve into an area of interest or sharpen your skills in any number of areas. We have listed a few of the area summer camps that are close to home. Mountain Brook Gymnastics Camp Tunzafun will begin the week of June 4 and offers ten weeks of day camp to choose from. Camp is open for boys and girls ages three and up (preschoolers must be three and must be potty trained). You do not need to have any previous gymnastics experience. Each day at camp, campers will have at least an hour of gymnastics, waterslides, games, crafts and snack time and will spend time both inside and outside. Each camper receives a camp T-shirt as well. Three and four year olds are allowed to come to a half day camp (8 a.m.-12p.m.), while ages five and up may choose to either come half day (8 a.m.-12p.m.) or full day (8a.m.-4p.m.). Spots are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Once a camp is full, you may have to choose another week! For more information visit www.mountainbrookgymnastics.com. S-M-ART Camp Spanish, music, and art…now that’s smart! Mountain Brook Elementary’s teachers Sara-Kathryn Bates (Spanish), Shari Dorsett (music) and Kendra Haddock (art) have teamed up to host a summer camp available to all incoming kindergarten through third grade students in Mountain Brook. The fun-filled week will include artistic creations, musical productions, Spanish language crafts, a trip to Davenport’s for lunch on Thursday and much more. The camp concludes with a presentation for parents on Friday. Cost is $255 and includes S-M-ART camp T-shirt, daily snacks & bottled water, lunch at Davenport’s and all supplies. Please make checks payable to MBCE. Children should bring a sack lunch every day except Thursday. Camp will be June 25 -29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mountain Brook Elementary. For more information, call 969-0109.

Linda Dobbins Dance Camp Linda Dobbins Dance will host camps this summer for girls ages 5 to 11. Camps include Pop Star Camp will take place June 11-15, Hip Hop Boot Camp June 18-22 and Cheer Camp June 25-29. At the end of each camp, on Friday, there will be in a Parent Show Off. Linda Dobbins Dance is located at 2416 Canterbury Road in Mountain Brook. For more information and to register, visit lddance. com or call 305-0281. Birmingham Zoo Camps The Birmingham Zoo offers camps throughout the summer for children ages 4K through eighth grade. Camps are either half day or whole day and offer children opportunities for special behind-the-scenes tours, up-close animal encounters, arts and crafts and other fun. These camps also include train and carousel rides and fun playing in the water fountains. The full-day camps are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and half-day camps are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Brand new camps for the year include Top Chef, Animal Style, Jr., Z.S.I. (Zoo Scene Investigator), Dirty Jobs, Nature Explorers, and Mommy and Me (two-hour camp). Classic favorites such as Art, ZooKeeper and African Safari are back. For more information and to register online, call 397-3887 or visit www.birminghamzoo.com/education/ camps/summer-camps.

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Birmingham Botanical Gardens Camps Choose from a variety of different topics including nature and the outdoors, plants and our environment, cooking, art and more. Programs are designed to actively promote your child’s natural sense of creativity and discovery with fun learning experiences in the unmatched setting at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Camps are offered for ages 4 through the six grade. All sessions are taught by certified or otherwise qualified teachers. Bring a lunch and a water bottle; a light snack is provided. Preregistration is required. One of the most popular camps is Garden Adventure with American Girls. Campers explore the gardens through the eyes of their American Girl dolls with arts and crafts, stories, songs and recipes. Other camps include Exploring the Garden with Winnie the Pooh, Monet’s Garden and Paper Art. Camps are weekly from May 29-July 27. Morning Camps (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) May 29-June 1: “Painting in The Gardens” and “Let’s Get Growing” June 4-8: “Flower Fairies,” “Garden Adventures with American Girl” and “Monet’s Garden” June 18- 25: “It’s a Buggy World” and “Wild Wings and Creeping Things” June 25-29: Two “Young Builders: Legos in the Landscape” sessions and “Paper Art” July 9-13: “Garden Adventures with American Girl” and “Southern Summer Chefs: The Sweeter Side” July 16–20: Two “Southern Summer Chefs” sessions July 23–27: Two “Let’s Dig Up Some Fun” sessions Afternoon Camp (1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.) June 11-15: “Art in the Afternoon: Paper Art” and “Explore The Gardens with Winnie the Pooh” Members and non-members can register. Prices range from $102 - $170 for each session. For a complete list of camp offerings, times, recommended age groups and to register online, visit www.bbgardens.org/summercamps. If you have any further questions, contact Ellen Hardy, education program coordinator, at 414-3953 or ehardy@ bbgardens.org. For a full list of summer camps around Birmingham, visit VillageLivingOnline.com.

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Mountain Brook Junior High Girls Summer Basketball Camp Join coaches John Phillips and Kelli Moore, the seventh

and eighth grade coaches at Mountain Brook Junior High, for a fun week of basketball. The camp is open to girls ages third through eighth grade and will be held at MBJH. Camp will be June 4-7 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Learn and practice shooting, ball handling, rebounding, and offensive and defensive drills. The camp will be full of three-on-three, four-on-four and five-on-five pick-up games. Cost is $80 and includes camp T-shirt. Make checks payable to MBJH and mail to John Phillips, MBJH, 205 Overbrook Road, Birmingham, AL 35213 along with the online form, found at http://www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/Images/Users/93/ MBJH%20Girls%20Basketball%20Camp%202012.pdf.

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| April 2012 | Village Living

Hop on in... We’ll Set You Straight!

Your i nitial is alw exam ays COMP LIMEN TARY!

It’s all about grace for Fixed Point Foundation leader By MADOLINE MARKHAM It started with a heated discussion at Ruth’s Chris with prominent atheist author Christopher Hitchens. Is man intrinsically good or bad? Evil, both Hitchens and Larry Taunton agreed. But where does Christianity come in? That’s where the two friends didn’t see eye to eye. According to Taunton, founder of Mountain Brook nonprofit Fixed Point Foundation, Christianity is the reason why there is any good in the world of evil man. It is this point that he expounds upon in his book, The Grace Effect, published in November. After listening to the arguments of atheists for years in the debates he hosts, Taunton found a lens to share his Christian viewpoint with any skeptic or Christian lay reader: his daughter, Sasha. As his family worked through Ukraine’s orphanage system to adopt Sasha, he said he saw firsthand how they treated children like a commodity. Throughout the adoption process Taunton narrates in his book, the Eastern European historian was contrasting the Ukranian corruption he saw with the benevolent Western culture that has been deeply influenced by a Judeo-Christian worldview.

Crestline Village

Larry Taunton, who leads Fixed Point Foundation from Mountain Brook Village, has published The Grace Effect. Photo courtesy of Fixed Point Foundation.

“It dawned on me that there (in Ukraine) was the world without Christian influence,” he said. “There they don’t think twice about driving over a girl in the street.” In the book, Taunton uses the story of Sasha and the grace that touched her life as a metaphor for a larger story of societies with and without Christianity. The book does not offer a political solution for deep-rooted problems with our country but, according to Taunton, does serve as a warning against treating Christianity the way that America does now. “We treat it like smoking,” he said. “Is it an accessory like Kiwanis, or is it the foundation for society?” Taunton fears that Western culture is headed the way of the East. He is burdened by the students he meets on college campuses who are not just ambivalent but hostile toward Christianity, wanting to get rid of it. “Whether you agree or not, I offer what I think is the reason for what is wrong with our culture,” he said. “It is cultural suicide to drive Christianity out of public life. Secularism cannot provide a foundation for how we live.” Taunton wants not just those interested in his intellectual argument to pick up the book. “I encourage people to read and enjoy the story,” Taunton said. “It’s not an academic book. It’s a story of a little girl, but it’s not Anne of Green Gables.” When he’s not traveling the world to host debates between prominent Christian and atheist thinkers, you can find Larry Taunton behind a green awning in Mountain Brook Village marked “Latimer House.” The storefront of nonprofit Fixed Point Foundation hosts Bible studies and luncheons and creates films and other resources—all as a part of its mission to promote Christianity to both Christians and skeptics in the public sphere. The Grace Effect is available at Books-aMillion, Barnes & Noble and online retailers. All proceeds from the book go toward Fixed Point Foundation. For more information on Fixed Point Foundation, visit fixed-point.org.

Sixteen MBHS students named National Merit ﬁnalists

Front row: Evan McCarty, Rachel Fleisig, Kathleen Harris, Anna Wheeler, Matthew Gambril, Nick Gravlee. Second row: Ivy Israel, Michael Cullinan, Brooke Harwell, Alex Cordover, Andrew Fix. Back row: Sallie Grantham, Thomas Johnston, Will Hightower, Taylor Jetmundsen, Alec Castinado. Photo courtesy of Andy Meadows.

Village Living

Local Relay for Life Team honored for fundraising efforts

| April 2012 |

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Mountain Brook representatives at the National Award at the Relay for Life Summit held in September: faculty sponsor Rodney Kornegar, Paul Styslinger, Matthewe Bolus, Mary Katherine Abele, Rebecca Lankford and Interact Club sponsor Katrina McGuire.

By LAURA DILLON

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

For the past 12 years, Mountain Brook High School students have organized and led an increasingly successful Relay for Life fundraising event on behalf of the American Cancer Society. The 2011 event, one of their most successful, was recently recognized at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Mid-South Summit. As the sixth largest youth-led Relay for Life organization in the country, Mountain Brook’s program was awarded first place for per capita funds raised in the entire United States. At the 2011 Relay for Life event held at Mountain Brook High School’s football stadium, more than 100 teams comprised of close to 1,000 team members from all over the community surpassed their goal of $138,000 to raise more than $160,000. Senior Mary Katherine Abele is this year’s Director of MBHS’s Relay. This is Abele’s third year to be involved in the program, and at the Mid South Summit she gave a talk about how youth relay organizations can make a difference for the American Cancer Society. Teams are forming now for the 2012

event scheduled for April 20. The goal this year is to get 140 teams to participate and to raise $170,000 “We supervise the planning and activities, but it is truly the students who do it all, from forming the teams to obtaining sponsorships to executing the fundraising events,” said Faculty Advisor Katrina McGuire. “The level of participation and commitment that we see from the students is remarkable.” The event is open to the entire community and there are many events and activities for the entire family to enjoy. But to really move the event to the next level, Abele would like to see the entire community get involved. “Anyone can form a team,” she said. “Local businesses, clubs, organizations, elementary schools are all great sources for teams.” To register your team online, visit www.relayforlife.org/mountainbrook. If you have questions or need more information, call Mary Frances Colley at 930-8893 or email mary.frances.colley@ cancer.org.

MBE Lancerpalooza

By HILARY ROSS

MBE held its second annual talent showcase, Lancerpalooza. Nineteen acts were selected to perform in the MBE auditorium. Acts ranged from musical performances, such as piano, guitar and violin, to vocal performances, and dance performances, group and single. The best part of the evening was the attitude

of all the participants and audience. “I was thrilled to see all the students so supportive of their peers,” one parent said. I think they all had a great time.” Lancer PTO committee was Amy Fell, Beth Bailey, Ashley Bazemore, Diana Browning, Paige Drew, Kim Kohler and Christy Stewart.

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April 2012 | Village Living

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CBS hosts ﬁrst ever talent show

Full Set $150 Thru 4.30.12

TREME LASHES

Betsy Bell presenting kindergartner Reid Ramsbacher with his trophy for winning The People’s Choice Award. Photo by Alison Gault.

By FRANCES WATTS

17 Dexter Avenue • 414-6062 Theplacetoescape.com

Cherokee Bend Elementary School rolled out the red carpet on Friday, March 9 for the first ever “The Bend’s Got Talent” show. Teachers, students, parents and family came together to enjoy and celebrate being a part of the CBS community. The participants performed in front of a sold-out audience at the Mountain Brook High School Fine Arts Building. Principal Betsy Bell and vice-principal Chad Paris emceed the event. A wide variety of talent was showcased during the evening. There was pogo sticking, jump roping, hula hooping and baton twirling, as well as magic and comedy. Audience members enjoyed several dance numbers including ballet, hip-hop and jazz. Musical theater acts, soloists and duets added to the excitement. Several classrooms performed together as did the entire sixth-grade class and the CBS faculty. Athletes at CBS were highlighted too. A black belt in karate performed as did basketball players and gymnasts. There was even a Stars Wars duel. A sixth- grader performed a monologue about her favorite memories at CBS.

The judges awarded the following Cherokee Benders for their performances: In the kindergarten- third grade category, first place was awarded to kindergartener Reid Ramsbacher for his dance “Boom Boom Pow;” second place was awarded to first graders Anna Bella Foster and Rachel Lebensburger for their dance “ABC/123;” third place was awarded to third grader Chandler Vargas for his piano piece “Festive Sonatina.” In the fourth-sixth grade category, first place went to sixth-grader Vann Walthall for his piano piece “Under Shooting Stars;” second place went to sixth graders Grant Freeman (drums) and Haskins Jones (electric guitar and vocals) for “Beast of Burden:” third place was awarded to Julia Baddley for her dance entitled “Cosmic Love.” The recipient of the People’s Choice Award was Reid Ramsbacher. PTO president Amy Roberts had the initial vision for the show; Beth Norris and Amy Scofield were committee chairs for it. All proceeds from the show benefit the Cherokee Bend Elementary School PTO. To learn more about this exciting event visit www.thebendsgottalent.com.

Hurowitz receives AP award

Altamont School Senior A study released by the Haley Hurowitz was awarded College Board, “AP Students in College: An Analysis of the 2011 Siemans Award for Advanced Placement in the Five-Year Academic Careers,” state of Alabama. Each year reported that students who one male and female student have taken AP math and from each state is awarded science courses have a higher success rate in STEM fields than a $2,000 college scholarship and acknowledged for their those who haven’t. Student enrollment in AP courses has achievements in Advanced Haley Hurowitz Placement (AP) science and increased by almost ten percent math courses. This year Hurowitz was since 2010. among the 101 students recognized.

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Girl Scout recognized with President’s award Riva Cullinan is a program recognizes young sophomore at Mountain Brook people across America for High School, but her extensive outstanding community volunteer work with the Girl service activities. Girl Scouting has provided Scouts has made more than just Mountain Brook take notice. Riva with volunteer experience Riva, the daughter of James working at Rocky Mountain and Judy Cullinan, was honored Day Camp for several years with a President’s Volunteer Riva Cullinan and volunteering at Service Unit weekends and Girl Scout Service Award as part of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Word Thinking Day programs. She has on behalf of President Barack Obama. The also helped in program delivery in the Girl Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Scouts’ Hispanic Initiative.

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Village Living

BWF Expressions district winners By BAMA HAGER Rachel Estreicher and Catherine Taylor were district winners in the recent Expressions Art Contests held at elementary schools in Mountain Brook. Both students were winners at the Brookwood Forest Elementary Expressions Art Contest and went on to compete in the district Expressions Art Competition. The Expressions Art Contest is an art competition for any type of art media. Students used various art forms to express their interpretation for the theme “If I Ruled the World...” Winners from each elementary school competed at the district level where community artists judged the submissions. PTO Chairperson for the Expressions Art Show at BWF was Annie Butrus.

| April 2012 |

! Y E

ou’v Grown Up wIth Us

Brookwood Forest Elementary third grader Catherine Taylor and fifth grader Rachel Estreicher were district winners in the Expressions Art Contest for Mountain Brook Schools,

Fancy Nancy visits students

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Jane O’Connor, author of the fabulously famous Fancy Nancy books, recently visited Mountain Brook Elementary. Her visit, courtesy of Books A Million, gave her an opportunity to share with kindergarteners through second graders her new book, Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet. She personalized student’s copy of the new book, read the story to the group, and discussed how she got the idea for the Fancy Nancy character. Photo courtesy of Christine Corbitt of Books A Million.

Expressions contest at CES By ALYSSA MONSON “If I Ruled the World” was this year’s PTO Elementary Arts Council Expressions Program. Children in grades k-6 were encouraged to submit original artwork in any of the 5 arts categories of literature, musical composition, photography, video

production and visual arts. Winners at Crestline went on to compete against winners at the other Mountain Brook elementary schools. In addition, each winner was awarded with their choice of a free ice cream or home work pass.

CES teacher appreciation By CHRISTIANA ROUSSEL Every March, the teachers of Crestline Elementary get spoiled. A large group of parent volunteers do things -- big and little- for their beloved teachers. Small treats in their mailboxes, notes from students, snacks in the workrooms are just a few of the surprises they look forward to. Wednesday is the best day though,

when the school library is transformed into an elegant cafe, complete with fancy tablecloths, fresh flowers, classical music and chair massages! This year’s committee (Beth Little, Collins Clegg, and Leslie Brooks) went over the top with a lunch catered by Tazikis. Every teacher received a special gift and some even got door prizes.

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Teachers enjoy a grown-up lunch. Photo by Christiana Roussel.

22 |

April 2012 | Business Spotlight

Business Spotlight

Tracery Interiors

By BROOKE BOUCEK

2405 Montevallo Road  414-6026 www.traceryinteriors.com

Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The sun peaks through the store windows in Mountain Brook Village to show off the modern, artsy feel of Tracery: its unique light fixtures, various modern patterned pillows, lamps for any room, colorful throws, chalk board wall hangings, soaps and candles, tables and chairs, and seemingly endless walls of abstract paintings and realist prints. Affordablepriced pieces sit amongst more pricey products. What you see in Tracery gives you a taste of the interiors the firm creates all over the country. “While the store is high-end, it is also fresh and modern as we try to mix in color and patterns for a younger feel,” designer Doug Davis said. Owner and founder Paige Schnell opened Tracery Interiors in 2004 at Rosemary Beach. At the request of Mountain Brook customers, they opened an additional location in Mountain Brook Village in October of 2010. They shared space with Paige Albright Orientals until moving into their own location on Montevallo Road. Tracery is delighted to be a part of creating dream homes for so many families in the surrounding area. The nationally recognized firm has designers that have worked in cities across the country. The company has worked on beach houses, lake houses, restaurants, offices and homes from Montana, Nantucket, and throughout the Southeast and Gulf Coast. BMC_PRIMARYƒ_10x7_5.pdf 1 3/16/12 “Incorporating new ideas with clients

Tracery designers Doug Davis and Hannon Kirk Doody (top left) with some of the interior items featured in their store. Photos by Brooke Boucek.

is the best part about working in interior design,” designer Hannon Kirk Doody said. Tracery’s work has been featured in Southern Living, Food & Wine, Birmingham Home & Garden, Vanity Fair and VIE. They also worked on a Southern Living idea house in 2009 and have been chosen to work on this year’s house in Senoia, Ga. Tracery is currently working on about 10 to 12 projects, two of which are 7:14 PM in the Birmingham area. The furnishing

firm’s staff looks forward to getting to know families throughout the area and accommodating their interior needs. While they are a national firm, Tracery values the community in which they work. Their storefront’s walls feature original work by local artists Laura Beers and Mila Hirsch. “It’s exciting to get the local community of Birmingham involved with Tracery,” Davis said. Working on Mountain Brook houses

is exciting for Davis, whose home was featured in last year’s Independent Presbyterian Church House tour in Birmingham. “The best part about working in this business is getting close with the families you work with while helping them plan their home,” Davis said. “It’s fun to drive by and watch the renovation process everyday in your own neighborhood.”

www.VillageLivingOnline.com

Restaurant Showcase English Village 2012 Cahaba Road 870-2238

Restaurant Showcase | April 2012 |

Billy’s Sports Grill

Situated at the corner of Cahaba Road and Fairway Drive in historic English Village is a Mountain Brook tradition: Billy’s Sports Grill. Known for large grilled burgers, hand-cut onion rings and simple salads, this is the place where friends meet for no-nonsense food in an easy atmosphere. Billy’s has been the kind of place where you could pop in for uncomplicated food and good times since original owner Billy McConnell started it as a corner grocery store and small sandwich shop in 1979. Restaurateur (and CPA) Terry Humphryes bought the restaurant about seven years ago with the aim of taking the best of the business–like that signature chicken sandwich and famous white sauce–and improving upon the finer points. An updating of the classic restaurant means that the regulars still feel right at home while new customers are attracted to come inside. It is not unusual for Billy’s to be the first stop former residents make when they come back through Birmingham. Marketing & Special Events Director Leigh Ann Callaway smiles when she says their tagline: “Feed Your Goat.” It is a funny phrase but it sums up the atmosphere of the place. The theme continues with the Billy’s dancing goat icon on the menu indicating specialties: fried olives, the southwestern wrap, Santa Fe salad and hand-cut filets, to name just a few. “It’s funny, but Billy’s changes who it is several times a day,” Callaway said. Lunch time finds tons of young professionals, getting their ESPN fix before heading

By CHRISTIANA ROUSSEL

Brad and Kim Riegel peruse the menu at Billy’s. Photo by Brittney Harrison.

back to the office. Oversized flat-screen televisions on almost every wall make it the perfect place to watch sporting events of any kind. “Early afternoon, we’ll see groups of women meet up for sweet tea or a glass of wine, after a tennis match,” Callaway said. “They can relax here. In fact, we have one customer who stops in every day for a single glass of wine at 4 p.m. I can practically set my watch by her arrival.” All bottles of wine are half-priced all day on Wine’d Down Wednesdays. It should be noted that families with kids are equally at home at Billy’s. With a no-smoking-before-10 p.m. rule, everyone can get their BLT or cheddar bacon fries needs fulfilled. The Greek salad, with feta and pepperoncini peppers, as well as the traditional Caesar are big hits at dinner.

Customers can add grilled chicken or fresh salmon to either selection. Continuing the evolution, Billy’s turns into a live-music joint several nights a week, attracting an entirely different group of customers. The success of the English Village location helped make expansion possible to nearby Liberty Park. This location also plays host to casual lunchtime get-togethers and frenzied sports viewing parties. But, located just out the back door of Mountain Brook High School, students are also likely to stop by for a quick Billy’s Chicken Club or fresh Chef Salad. Manager Kyle Buntin will be the first to tell you that it is the quality of the food that every customer can agree upon. “All of our food is cooked to order with no prepackaged frozen products,” he said. “If it takes a little longer to get those onion rings

out, it’s because we make each order when the customer places it. We’re also pretty proud of our award-winning wings, which have taken first place at the annual Kick’n Chick’n Wing Fest.” Now that Billy’s is the exclusive restaurant inside the Barber Motorsports Complex, they are guaranteed to earn even more fans. In fact, the Billy’s catering team handles such high-profile events as the Honda Indy Grand Prix race. It sounds like Terry Humphryes and his group have put together their own winning team: fresh simple food enjoyed in a comfortable atmosphere. Christiana Roussel lives in Crestline and enjoys all things food-related. Follow her culinary musings online at ChristianasKitchen. com or on Facebook or Twitter (Christiana40).

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Easter, Mother's Day, Graduation.... lots of gift ideas from Chan Luu, Carolina and more!

t r a c e r y for a showing of art by

Mallory Page & Mila hirsCh Friday, april 13 3:00pm to 8:00pm 24052814 montevallo rd P etticoat L ane

Now Open in Mountain Brook Village {

P aige a Lbright o rientaLs buiLding } 205.414.6026 www . traceryinteriors . com Featuring| Shin digs Food truck

inside the

& Flower magazine

www.shopetcjewelry.com

| April 2012 |

Village Living

Parenting with Dr. Dale Wisely Sleep-away camp

I would like to send my 10-year-old daughter to sleep-away summer camp for a two- or three-week session. But, she is very reluctant to go. Should I force the issue? This is one of those questions that is hard to answer, and the best thing to do here may very much depend on your daughter’s specific situation. Let me suggest some general ideas about this. I am generally a big fan of the summer camp experience. All of my daughters went to camp for at least a week or two during the summer, and two of them became counselors in training and then camp counselors. It was a tremendous experience for them, and I think they benefited a great deal from attending camp and then being in leadership positions at their camp. As a psychologist, I’ve tended to think of summer camp as a great step along the way of beginning to build some independence from parents, developing relationships with diverse peers, and developing new skills and interests. But, that doesn’t mean, of course, that camp is for every child. So what about a child who doesn’t want to go to camp? The dilemma, of course, is that it’s entirely possible the reluctant child, once she goes, will have a terrific time, and you don’t want to miss out on that possibility. It’s also possible, of course, that she’s not ready, for whatever reason, and a parent could be faced with having to consider going to bring her home early. (Or, she could stay and be miserable!) I don’t think it is at all uncommon for a child to be nervous about going away to camp for the first time. Also, not at all rare are cases in which the child goes off to camp and then has a major problem with homesickness or separation anxiety. That’s when the parent sometimes gets a call from the camp and has to decide whether to go bring a child home early. As a general rule, I think that bringing a child home early is

a scenario that’s best to avoid if you can. Fortunately, most sleep-away camps have personnel that are pretty skilled at dealing with the homesick child, and most of these cases probably get handled by staff without parental intervention. If you think your child is ready and is just experiencing some normal anticipatory jitters, I would suggest first trying a very positive approach. Speak in an upbeat manner about how fun camp can be. If possible, consider visiting camp, with your child, before she actually goes. Encourage her to ask any kind of question she has about what camp will be like. Perhaps your daughter has friends who love camp who can talk to her about it. You might also reassure her that you will be called and can come and get her if there is an emergency. However, I would avoid making promises that you will come get her right away if she gets homesick or is initially unhappy once she arrives at camp. If your daughter’s reluctance to go is extreme and she seems exceptionally upset at the prospect of going, I think you would have to ask yourself why that is. It’s possible that she really isn’t developmentally ready. It could be that she’s a bit more emotionally dependent on her family than is typical at her age. Consider starting her off with a shorter time at camp. Going from never having attended camp to a two- or threeweek stay may be too abrupt a transition. If she goes and if you get that phone call from her on the first or second night begging to come home, don’t jump in the car. Talk to the staff and ask them how they think she’s adjusting. Give her more time to adjust, if possible. Many kids have a rough time at first, but then adjust to camp if they have the chance.

Around the Villages The Gardens Cafe renovated The Gardens Café by Kathy G. has undergone a complete renovation and reopened at the first of March. The café’s original teal green walls and fabric chairs have given way to sleek concrete floors, fresh neutral paint, and garden-inspired fixtures and wall art. Tamara Archer, manager of The Gardens Café, said the transformation is “amazing, it feels much more spacious and organic to its location.” Located just inside the gates of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the restaurant features both

Ollie Irene a James Beard ﬁnalist Ollie Irene in Mountain Brook Village has been named one of 29 semifinalists for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. Mountain Brook native Chris Newsome and Anna Lakovitch opened the

restaurant in August in the former Pianeta 3 and Browdy’s location. Finalists for the award will be announced on March 19; the winner will be announced May 7.

Tracery hosts art show Flower Magazine and Tracery Interiors are hosting an art show featuring the work of Doug Davis, Margot Shawl, Mila Hirsch, Mac Russell and Mallory Page. The event will be held Friday, April 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. Hirsch’s work was featured in a popup gallery in Mountain Brook Village this winter; her new line, Mila Hirsch Intaglio Prints, was created by printing with actual fresh botanicals. Shawl founded Flower Magazine, and Davis owns Tracery. Page

Come see what is Haute for Spring

Luncheon & Fashion Show begin at 11:30am

May 9 th at Park Lane

205-871-3779 32 Vine Street Mountain Brook, Alabama 35213

indoor and outdoor seating. The Kathy G. signature light lunch menu is served at The Gardens Café from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. On Saturdays, please call ahead for available lunch seatings, as The Gardens will close for private events. In addition to lunch, The Gardens Café also offers wedding receptions, showers, rehearsal dinners and private parties. For more information, visit http://www.bbgardens.org/gardens-cafe. php.

For more details or to purchase tickets please go to the chamber website welcometomountainbrook.com

is from New Orleans and pulls inspiration from her own emotions, education, extensive travels and favorite artists. Russell is a chef at Shingdigs Food Truck. Tracery Interiors is located at 2405 Montevallo Road in Mountain Brook Village and can be reached at 414-6026. Art is available for purchase in store or at www. MilaHirsch.com or www.MalloryPage. com.