Village Living October 2016 by Starnes Media

Village Living Volume 7 | Issue 7 | October 2016

Flowers Full Time

neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook

Welcoming in Welch Elected ﬁnancial advisor prepares to ﬁll longtime mayor Oden’s shoes

Lifelong passion and hobby becomes booming business for founding ﬂorist of Marigold Designs.

See page A14

The Wait Is Over

After nearly a year and a half of planning and construction, tenants of the Lane Parke shopping center are opening their doors.

See page B1

special section

home & garden Mayor-elect Stewart Welch said he’s looking to improve the overall quality of life in Mountain Brook during his tenure as mayor. Stewart takes ofﬁce, replacing longtime mayor Terry Oden, on Nov. 7. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

With the change in seasons comes home and landscaping improvements. Check out this guide to point you in the right direction.

See page C1

INSIDE Sponsors ......... A4 News ................. A6 Business .........A10 Community ....A16

Faith ...............A29 Sports ............... B4 School House .. B8 Calendar ..........B18

Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit #54

facebook.com/villageliving

By LEXI COON Stewart Welch never planned on being mayor. In fact, when he was approached with the idea, both he and his wife didn’t want any part of it, but after speaking with current Mayor Terry Oden, he changed his mind. Now, Welch is going to take the mayor’s ofﬁce of Mountain Brook in November.

“Someone called me and asked if I would consider running,” he said. “And my ﬁrst reaction was, ‘No.’” He said Oden reassured him Mountain Brook politics were in no way similar to the “total mess” seen in national politics today. “I literally sat down with Terry for a couple of hours, and he walked me through what it was like,” he said. “I thought about it and said, ‘You know, I would love an opportunity to give back

to the community.’” Welch admits he has no political experience but believes his past experiences in financial advising will help him the most. He began his career in finance as a life insurance agent and soon learned he liked the bigger puzzles of people’s financial lives.

See WELCH | page A30

Breast cancer survivor champions ‘unique’ refuge of holistic support By GRACE THORNTON When Susan Sellers was diagnosed with breast cancer, she got nervous. And then she got quiet. “My kids were 10 and 13 at the time, and when you have kids, it’s different — you don’t talk about it because you don’t want them to be scared,” she said. But she needed to talk. “I wanted to know what to do and what to expect,” Sellers said. So she found herself picking up the phone

and calling a friend in another city who already had been through that journey. “I was so thankful for that,” said Sellers, president of St. Vincent’s Foundation. “But sometimes when you talk to someone else who has had breast cancer, their story and diagnosis is completely different from your own. It would’ve been great to have a place I could’ve called to get the kind of support I needed in that moment of being overwhelmed.”

See SUPPORT | page A31

Susan Sellers, president of St. Vincent’s Foundation, runs the Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center. Photo by Shay Allen.

A2 â&#x20AC;¢ October 2016

Village Living

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A3

A4 • October 2016

Village Living

About Us Editor’s Note By Jennifer Gray Fall is in full swing in Mountain Brook. There are all sorts of ways to enjoy the weather and the beauty of the season. In this issue, you will find information on fall festivals at local churches and schools. These have become a popular way to celebrate Halloween. Another fun Halloween tradition in Mountain Brook is the Mystics parade. This parade is heavily attended, and it’s easy to see why. Come watch your friends ride on decorated ﬂoats, enjoy the funny and sometimes scary costumes, catch some beads and moon pies, and listen to the sounds of the Spartan marching band. It’s a great kickoff before you go trick-or-treating. Speaking of trick-or-treating, ever

thought about all the kids with allergies and the dangers that presents when trick-or-treating? If you are looking for some helpful tips and other information on celebrating safely and ideas for allergy free treats, you will want to check out that story in this month’s issue. Also this month, the annual Antiques at The Gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is taking place. It’s a beautiful setting to look at antiques, hear amazingly talented speakers, check out designer ideas and, of course, admire beautiful plants and arrangements. The merchants of Mountain Brook Village are hosting an event that is a complement to the Gardens event, too. Come shop as the stores stay open late,

listen to live music and get a bite to eat from one of the village restaurants or the food truck that will be there the night of the festivities. In a nod to the Antiques at The Gardens event going on the same week, merchants will decorate their shop windows with beautiful arrangements that will add to the event. This fall, Mountain Brook’s new mayor, Stewart Welch, takes ofﬁce. Get to know him better in our proﬁle and hear about his vision for our city. Lastly, what would fall be without football? Read all about Mountain Brook’s season thus far and what to expect as the season progresses.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

A neighborhood cat discreetly takes in the sights while perched in between columns. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

Village Living Publisher: Editor: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Photography: Director of Digital Media: Community Editor: Sports Editor: Page Designers:

Dan Starnes Jennifer Gray Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Sarah Finnegan Heather VacLav Erica Techo Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Community Reporters: Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Lexi Coon Staff Writers: Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries Contributing Writers: Grace Thornton Kari Kampakis

Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes

Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Jon Harrison Gail King Eric Clements

For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: Village Living PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnespublishing.com

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

Published by: Village Living LLC Legals: Village Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or

graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Village Living is designed to inform the Mountain Brook community of area school, family and community events. Information in Village Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Village Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

Please recycle this paper.

Please Support Our Community Partners 30 A Realty (B9) A’mano (A15) Aesthetic Dermatology (A8) Alabama Goods (B12) Alabama Outdoors (B13) Alabama Power (A17) Amy Maziarz, Red Hills Realty (A29) Amy Smith (B17) Anna Lu Hemphill, Realty South (B8) ARC Realty (A3) Architectural Hardware Supply (C11) Assurance Financial (B11) Avani Rupa Fine Jewelers (B13) Bates, Roberts, Fowlkes & Jackson Insurance (A9) Bedzzz Express (B1, C16) Billy Brown Flooring (C3) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (B15) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (A20) Birmingham Zoo (A14) Brandino Brass (C12) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A19) Budget Blinds (C6) California Closets (A19) Campaign to Keep Judge Thetford (A25) Canterbury Gardens (B8) Chickadee (A12) Children’s of Alabama (B18) Christine’s on Canterbury (B15) Classic Gardens (C11) Clubhouse on Highland (B16) Committee to Re-Elect Judge Clyde Jones (A21) Construx (C7) David J Putman for Congress (A32) DeSoto Caverns (A7) Dish’n It Out (A22) dk2 Gallery (A12) DSLD Land Management (C2) Ex Voto Vintage (B12) EZ Roof & EZ Restoration (C8) Gardner Landscaping (C1) Gary Palmer for Congress (A18) Grandview Medical (B5) Hanna’s Antiques (C13) Henhouse Antiques (A10) Hiltz-Lauber (C9) Homewood Toy & Hobby (A14) Hufham Orthodontics (B10) Hutchinson Automotive (B4) Issis & Sons (A31, B3, B18) Jacqueline DeMarco (B18) JJ Eyes (A11) John-William Jeweller (A31) Junior League of Birmingham (A15) Kirkwood by the River (A28) Klinglers Cafe & Catering (A26) Lane Parke - Evson Inc. (A13, B19) Leaf & Petal (A26) Local Taco (A28) Marcus Agency (A6) Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce (B4) Mountain Brook Merchants Association (A5) Moss Rock Festival (A1, A16) NeedCo Inc. (C13) One Man and a Toolbox (C14) Otey’s (B14) Planet Fitness (B7) Please Reply (A23) Rare Transportation - Apex (A24) RealtySouth (B20) Sentry Heating & Air (C10) Sew Sheri Designs (C12) Shiki Thai and Sushi (A20) Southern States Bank (A22) Swoop (A31) Table Matters (A29) Taco Mama (A30) The Cook Store (B17) The Fitness Center (A30) The Highlands Community (B7) The Maids (B16) The Tile Cleaner LLC (A27) The Welch Group (A2) TherapySouth Crestline (B2) Total Fitness Consultants (A27) Town and Country (A23) UAB Plastic Surgery (A10) Uptown at BJCC (B17) Urban Home Market (C5) Village Pet Care (A11) Village Poodle (C14) Weigh To Wellness (B1)

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A5

A6 • October 2016

Village Living

City

Council addresses limited patronage parking By LEXI COON One of the biggest issues in Mountain Brook — parking — surfaced again during the Sept. 12 City Council meeting. During the pre-meeting, council members voted against allowing MPower Pilates to offer an additional class time at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. due to the limited amount of parking spaces available for other tenants. After observing the area at 2419 Canterbury Road, Dana Hazen, director of planning, building and sustainability, determined there were approximately only seven open spaces during those allotted class times, all of which would have been filled due to potential classes. Another business in question, Ice House, was approved after going before the council requesting changes making the restaurant more dinner-oriented. Owner Tom Sheffer is changing his Culver Road breakfast spot, formerly Biscuit Boy, into a Texas-style barbecue restaurant that will cater to guests looking for a quick bite to eat. Councilman Billy Pritchard voiced concerns about patronage and parking; however, Hazen noted that at any given time there were about 30 open parking spaces within walking distance to the restaurant. In the end, the council approved Sheffer’s requests, 4-1. During normal council meeting, members altered the smoking ordinance consideration to a first hearing and chose to move the consideration to the following city council meeting. Members hoped to vote on this issue during the Sept. 26 meeting. The council also adopted the city’s budget for the 2017 fiscal year, which would leave the city with $766,000 in surplus. In other business, the council:

Mayor Terry Oden, standing center, proclaims the week of Sept. 17-23 Constitution Week with the help of members of the Alabama Daughters of the American Revolution. Photo by Lexi Coon.

► Approved the resolution authorizing the right-of-way agreement, the preliminary engineering agreement and the utility and construction agreement between the city and the Alabama Department of Transportation regarding the Old Brook Trail Bridge and the Canterbury Road Bridge; ► Approved the resolution authorizing the execution of the APPLE-funded Mountain Brook Sidewalks Feasibility Study; ► Discussed the Watkins Branch pedestrian bridge and sidewalk connections and the bridge of Shades Creek in Jemison Park; ► Approved an Early Retirement Window, allowing eligible retirees access to the city’s medical insurance program after 20 years of service within the city;

► Moved to amend the resolution regarding public requests for trafﬁc island beautiﬁcation to include entranceways for the Williamsburg Circle entrance; ► Approved the resolution appointing Kelly Hulsey and Elizabeth Poyner to the Tree Commission, to serve without compensation through Sept. 12, 2019; ► Approved the resolution appointing Penny Page and Max Pullman to the Emmet O’Neal Library Board, to serve without compensation through Oct. 30, 2020; ► Approved a resolution rejecting all bids concerning the construction of a new public safety training building; ► Approved the resolution allowing Richard Riley Simpson to perform moisture abatement

exploration services at the Emmet O’Neal Library under Brasfield & Gorrie; ► Approved the sale or disposition of surplus property; ► Approved the settlement agreement with respect to the Alabama Furniture Market, LLC v. the City of Alabaster, et. al.; ► Approved the professional services of construction, engineering and inspection to be performed by Sain Associates with regards to the Phase 9 sidewalk project; ► Approved the execution of an auditing services addendum to the master agreement between the city and the Public Resource Management Alliance Corporation regarding the city’s tax and license administration; ► Approved the professional services agreement between the city and Gresham, Smith & Partners for the design and administration of the Caldwell Mill Road bridge reconstruction; ► Approved the ordinance increasing the city manager’s salary by 1.5 percent, effective Oct. 4; ► Approved the resolution increasing the salary schedule for all classified and unclassified employees by 1.5 percent, effective Oct. 4, and increasing the compensation for contract security services for the city’s Public Works facilities; ► Approved the amendment of the City Code regarding open houses, home tours and special events in residential zoning districts; ► Approved the amendment of Chapter 14 of the City Code to increase the building permit fee for non-residential construction permits by $1 per $1,000 of construction value; ► Approved the request for $2,100 in funding by Dr. Richard Craig for the Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health Authority; ► Approved the health and dental insurance cost for the following year.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A7

Arrest made in multiple construction site thefts Mountain Brook Police Department sends out a weekly update of crimes that have occurred within the city. File photo.

By ERICA TECHO Mountain Brook police have identified and arrested a suspect in connection to multiple construction site thefts in the city, according a MBPD community update. On Aug. 26, three ladders reportedly were stolen from a construction site on Country Club Road. Investigators identified the offender, according to the report, and connected them to several other thefts that have been mentioned in the past few weeks. Other construction site thefts reported in the community update included two ladders stolen between Aug. 8 and 17 from a site off of Halbrook Lane and two ladders stolen Sept. 2 from Country Club Circle, according to past updates. In the month of September, police also reported a possible connection between multiple wallet thefts. A victim reported July 1 that two women entered the store where they were working and stole their wallet, according to a Sept. 1 update. Police reported the two women were likely the same pair involved in similar thefts in multiple Mountain Brook stores. “This is a traveling group which comes through and then leaves the state,” the update said. “They hit Hoover in 2015. They have not been identified.” On Aug. 17, a employee of a store on Culver Road reported two women entered the store and stole her license and credit card. Police report this theft was likely connected to two other wallet thefts that occurred Aug. 17. Other thefts reported by police included a while male reportedly shoplifting multiple rechargeable toothbrushes from a store on Euclid Avenue on Sept. 12, and a check that reportedly was stolen between Dec. 25, 2015, and July 16. The check was reportedly stolen and cashed by a known offender. A suspicious vehicle was also reported to police. On Sept. 9, a bearded, heavyset white

CRIME REPORT male reportedly stopped his vehicle on Overton Road at Halbrook Lane and asked a young girl if she wanted a ride. The man was driving a white van, according to the report. Two victims reported car break-ins, which were included in the community update.

Between Sept. 7 and 8, an unlocked car on Gaywood Circle was entered, and a tennis racket and bag were stolen. On Sept. 8, a car on Bethune Drive reportedly was entered, and cash and a charging cord were stolen. The car was “unsecured,” according to the update. Police reported a Chevrolet pickup was forcibly entered and stolen between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The car was in the 2800 block of Thornhill Road at the time of the theft, according to the update, and is maroon in color. During that time, in the same general area, a car window was broken and a laptop and backpack were reported stolen. On Sept. 7, a car window was broken while a

car was parked in the 100 block of Office Park Drive, according to a MBPD update, and nothing was reported stolen. The incident was described as criminal mischief. About seven hit and runs were reported in the department’s September updates, dating through Sept. 15, including five parked cars that were hit in different locations and two wrecks that occurred on U.S. 280. On Sept. 14, an unknown vehicle reportedly hit another car on U.S. 280, causing that vehicle to hit a third vehicle. The unknown vehicle then fled the scene, according to the update. On Sept. 6, a Scion XB was reportedly hit by a silver Kia Forte that left the scene.

A8 • October 2016

Village Living

Mountain Brook Superintendent Dr. Richard Barlow reads a special resolution for exiting Mayor Terry Oden, acknowledging “all he has done for Mountain Brook and the Mountain Brook school system.” Photo by Lexi Coon.

Board recognizes excellence, adopts FY17 budget By LEXI COON The Mountain Brook Board of Education met Sept. 12 at Mountain Brook High School and provided recognition to their school community members as well as Mayor Terry Oden. Dr. Richard Barlow, Mountain Brook superintendent, created a special resolution for Oden, acknowledging “all he has done for Mountain Brook and the Mountain Brook school system.” The theme of recognition continued throughout the night, with the board taking time to honor the accomplishments of many within the school system, including: ► This year’s PTO Council; ► CLAS Leadership and American Association of School Personnel Administration awards recipient Sylvia Harper; ► The Institute Day 2016 team and all of their hard work; ► Mountain Brook Elementary special

education teachers Jennifer Jones and Allyson Martin, who spoke at the ninth annual Social Thinking Global Provider’s Conference in California; ► The Brookwood Forest Elementary porch project, which was awarded the Birmingham Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Merit Award; ► Christopher Alexander, who placed first in the 800-meter run and first in the javelin throw, and Drew Lewis, who placed first in the 100meter and 200-meter run in this year’s Alabama Special Olympics State Games; ► The Mountain Brook Junior High Debate Team, which earned the School of Excellence Award at the National Speech and Debate Tournament; ► Adam Thomas, a senior trombonist from Mountain Brook High School who was selected as a member of the orchestra to perform at the National Association for Music Education Conference.

The board also commended the work of the Lead 2016 program, which works with teachers and administrators to provide professional development in leadership areas and to foster a sense of community. Through this program, the Mountain Brook school system was able to bring together education professionals of all grades and curriculums to collaborate on ideas and stimulate discussion. This was the third year for the program, which contributed nearly 2,000 hours of professional development for the district’s teachers and administrators. Additionally, the board reviewed the districtwide renovations that were performed throughout the summer on various facilities. While some of the renovations were relatively standard, such as new lighting or ﬂooring in school buildings, a few were more extensive. The Mountain Brook High School installed

partitions in the ﬁeldhouse to create up to four separate classroom spaces and renovated its existing library. Mountain Brook Elementary’s PTO board funded a new playground over the summer. While class sizes may have declined by about 200 students from last year, programs such as Lead 2016 and facility enhancements are aiming to provide students with the best education possible, the board said. Toward the end of the agenda, the board held the second budget hearing, during which it adopted the budget for the 2017 ﬁscal year. The board also approved of personnel recommendations and the disposal of damaged surplus items. Members of the community were also encouraged to attend this year’s fall play Boeing Boeing at Mountain Brook High School. The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 17, at 3:30 p.m. at Mountain Brook Junior High.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A9

Chamber Chamber luncheon speaker discusses ‘politics (not) as usual’ By ERICA TECHO The 2016 presidential race and its candidates could be described with two sets of Billy Joel lyrics, said Birmingham-Southern College political science professor Natalie Davis. For Hillary Clinton, “Honesty is such a lonely word/ Everyone is so untrue/ Honesty is hardly ever heard/ And mostly what I need from you.” For Trump, “You may be right/ I may be crazy/ But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for.” Davis shared these lyrics, along with insight on the current political climate and upcoming election, during the Aug. 25 Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. In this year’s race, Davis said of the two main candidates, most people do not like either option. “How did we get there? What really got us there?” she said. “When I think about this, I have a couple of answers, and those answers most of you have heard already.” To start, Davis said there is a “populist revolt” at work, meaning average people feel like the government does not work for them. On the right, people are angry at the establishment, Davis said. On the left, she added, they’re angry about income inequality. That dissatisfaction can be seen in this year’s election through the popularity of candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, Davis said. Because November is a four-way race, including candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, Davis said the main party candidates are not vying over the “persuadable” 20 percent of the population — instead, Davis says she guesses this race looks like Trump can expect 43 percent of voters, Clinton can expect 43

Birmingham-Southern College political science professor Natalie Davis answers questions at the Aug. 25 Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Photo by Erica Techo.

percent of voters, Johnson and Stein can expect a collective 8-10 percent of voters and about 4 percent of voters are up for grabs. “A candidate has two strategies to think about,” Davis said. “One, can I get to that 4 percent? How do I reach that 4 percent and persuade those folks to be with me? Or, do I not worry about that so much and simply try to get out my vote?” Clinton is working to attract voters from several pools — African-Americans, Hispanics, union people, gays and women, while Trump is working to reach some of the voters he did

not connect with during his primary race, Davis said, including college-educated, and especially women. “Donald’s got a more difficult task. He doesn’t have that many wells to go to,” she said. “He’s already got white, working class, mad-as-hell men, he’s losing badly among college-educated whites, especially college-educated women. He’s on a good guy tour.” Trump has discussed changes in his immigration policy and giving attention to the needs of the African-American community as a way to appeal to suburban voters who

were previously turned off by his rhetoric, Davis said. Whether his plan is working or not should be made apparent in the next few weeks, she said. “Is there a new Donald Trump? We’ll see,” she said. “Maybe he’s the original Donald Trump that we didn’t see until now, that that stuff in the middle was just the kind of lunatic Donald Trump there to try and get voters, and he was very successful at that. … There is clearly not a new Hillary. It’s the same Hillary we’ve known for 30 years.” Following her presentation, Davis responded to audience questions including how Trump’s pivot might affect his original base. While that remains to be seen, most base supporters have a “stick-to-it-ness” that means they will remain with Trump even if he has pivoted on a few points, Davis said. When asked about some of the comments being thrown around this election, Davis said social media has taken away barriers on what people can or will say. It seems like people can say anything they want on social media, she said. She expects that the election is only going to ramp up from here, however. “If you think it’s nasty now, just wait until the first of October,” Davis said. As the election moves forward and debates kick off, many voters will get most information through the cherry-picked sound bites and political ads, Davis said, adding that most people only soak in information that supports their beliefs. And while toss up states can expect to see a barrage of political ads, Davis said Alabama should not expect too many. “We’re not playing. Alabama is red, it’s going to be red, I’m sorry,” she said. “And so this is a spectator sport for us.”

Relationships are Important! We believe that the relationship with our clients and companies is very important. Our philosophy is that the client should know the person on the other end of the phone. Instead of being assigned an agent, why not choose your agent that you can contact anytime. We are proud of the companies we represent. Our approach is to provide concierge service giving you the utmost in attention and protection. Brock Bates; Thomas A. (Tommy) Roberts, CIC; Henry S. (Sonny) Fowlkes III; Ben I. Jackson, Jr., CIC, CRM; Stratton Fowlkes; David Bates, III; David (Bubba) Bates, IV, CIC

Personal Package Program • Homeowners • Automobile • Valuable Items • Personal Umbrella • Secondary Residences Business Package Programs

1812 Sixth Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35210 (205) 956-0563 www.batesIA.com

A10 â&#x20AC;¢ October 2016

Village Living

ir R

a tcl on

d lid

ch ur Ch

4Euc 1

e Av

eS Av

Montrose Rd

Mountain Brook Business Happenings

d Blv

Ca h

oo Br

w Pk

oo yw oll

Lane Park Rd

MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLAGE

ll va e t on

un tai

D ay w r i

CRESTLINE VILLAGE

Overbrook Rd

ENGLISH VILLAGE

y ntr u Co

b Clu

all ev t on

280 31

s de

149

a Sh

w Pk ek

e Cr

Overton Rd

VillageLivingOnline.com

Now Open Pet Vet Express is now open in Crestline at 253 Country Club Park. The clinic, owned by Dr. Kris Mahaffey, is open Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 518-0606, alpetvet.com

Hirings and Promotions Urban Cookhouse, 212 Country Club Park, has hired Joe Martin as general manager of their restaurant. 803-3535, urbancookhouse.com

Highlands School, 4901 Old Leeds Road, has hired Trey Adams as director of admissions and enrollment. 956-9731, highlandsschool.org

Coming Soon Tom Sheffer, who founded Avo & Dram, will open Ice House on Cahaba, a Texas-themed restaurant, at 2710 Culver Road, adjacent to Barton-Clay Fine Jewelers. The restaurant will serve Texas-style barbecue as well as tacos, sandwiches and bar options. It will operate as a self-serve, counter-service only restaurant.

Relocations and Renovations Renta Urban Land Design has relocated from its location in Mountain Brook, 3 Ofﬁce Park Circle, Suite 100, to Rocky Ridge Plaza in Vestavia Hills. 545-7639, renta-la.com

October 2016 • A11

Brookwood Village, at 780 Brookwood Village on Shades Creek Parkway, has hired David Schloss as general manager. 871-0406, shopbrookwoodvillage.com

Mountain Brook Plastic Surgery, 2850 Cahaba Road, has announced the addition of Dr. Brad Denney to their practice. Dr. Denney specializes in Botox/ﬁllers, aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, body contouring/liposuction, and facial rejuvenation services. 871-4440, mountainbrookplasticsurgery. com

Item does not appear on map.

A12 • October 2016

Village Living

The Monogram Shop and The Time Machine has moved from Old Montgomery Highway to Brookwood Village. “It’s a Southern thing,” proprietor Irfan Yousuf said about monogramming. Photos by Jesse Chambers.

Monogram business moves to Brookwood By JESSE CHAMBERS Monogramming is popular in the Birmingham area, and Irfan Yousuf, longtime proprietor of The Monogram Shop and The Time Machine now at Brookwood Village, said he thinks he knows why. “It’s a Southern thing,” Yousuf said, who has been in the business for 20 years. “They want everything monogrammed. Kids want their initials on T-shirts and hats. It’s a service that will never die.” And as long as people want that service, Yousuf said he will likely be there to supply them. At The Monogram Shop, Yousuf offers monogramming, embroidery and custom

decals, as well as custom-made phone and iPad cases, car tabs, and decals for cars and trucks. And at The Time Machine, customers can get watchbands and batteries, as well as simple watch repairs. Yousuf operates both businesses from a cart in the Brookwood Village concourse near the food court. He said he has an advantage over any other monogramming establishment in the Birmingham area — speed. “I’m the only one who does everything while you wait on the spot,” he said. “Some places tell you to come back in three or four days. I tell you to come back in about 15 minutes.” There are few limits on the items Yousuf can add decals to. “Anything smooth you have at home, I can

customize,” he said. “You can put your name or initials on it. People can bring in their own items to monogram, also. We can do almost anything that will ﬁt into the machine.” He lists such items as hats, caps, shirts, towels, blankets, lunch bags, even diaper bags and Christmas stockings. “We do it all,” he said. Yousuf said that he can put decals on Yeti cups and other tumblers and water bottles, something he said is really popular. “Kids love their water bottles,” he said. The business has been at Brookwood Village for about a month, after Yousuf moved from Old Montgomery Highway. He said he has also operated at the Galleria. The Monogram Shop was previously named

the Stitch Witch. Originally from Hoover, Yousuf said he enjoys what he does for a living. “I love it,” he said. “Every day is different.” Yousuf also enjoys facing challenges and doing things for customers no one else can do when it comes to monogramming and watch repair, he said. “If they say a watch cannot be ﬁxed, call The Time Machine and get a second opinion,” he said Yousuf offers discounts for large orders from groups, including schools and corporations. “We will work with you on the price,” he said. Monogramming is free with $20 purchase, Yousuf said.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A13

MPOWER brings Pilates, cycling to Mountain Brook By LEXI COON MPOWER Pilates and Cycling Studio’s owner Emma Suttles wanted to offer some high-profile celebrity fitness to everyday workout enthusiasts. With that in mind, Suttles has brought a little bit of Hollywood to Mountain Brook. Nearly 10 years ago, Suttles moved from her home in Birmingham to Los Angeles for a work opportunity. She was soon doing a style of Pilates practiced by celebrities and public figures including Kim Kardashian, Michelle Obama and Sophia Vergara. In typical Los Angeles fashion, however, they were not your average Pilates classes. Developed by Seattle University graduate Sebastian Lagree in 2001, the Lagree Method for Pilates encourages maximum exertion with limited risk of injury by toning and elongating muscles and strengthening the body. The training is similar to standard Pilates but also includes cardio and stability training on a machine called a Megaformer. A Megaformer resembles a revamped treadmill outfitted with strings, straps and pulleys. Each student uses a Megaformer to add strength training and resistance to Pilates moves. Suttles worked with the Lagree Method while living in Los Angeles and would look for classes when she visited Birmingham. “I always wanted to be able to go to classes when I would visit Birmingham and knew that other wellness enthusiasts in Birmingham would love and appreciate the efficiency of this method,” Suttles said. “I finally just decided that I had to spread the word about the method and open my own studio.” Pilates and spin classes are both 50 minutes long and include five minutes to stretch and cool down. Each session is limited to 10 people, and prices range from $13 to $25 per class. While some people may be used to working out every day to maintain physique and health, Suttles said not to overexert the body by attending a class every day because the classes are exhausting strength-training sessions. “Our tag line is ‘Mind. Body. Soul.’ — which embodies our studio culture,” Suttles said. “This is about strength of community, improving your day by attending and improving others’ days through joy and intention that the classes provide you when you attend.” The studio also is working to support First Light, a local center

MPOWER Pilates and Cycling Studio owner Emma Suttles. Photo by Lexi Coon.

for homeless women and children. “It was extremely important to have a bigger purpose to the studio than simply providing the community with a great method of exercise,” Suttles said. “We truly want people to walk out the door feeling powered by how they can do both more physically than they thought, but also the impact they have on the community as a group coming together.” MPOWER Pilates and Cycling Studios, 2419 Canterbury Road, offers Pilates and spin group classes and private lessons Monday through Friday, 5:15 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.; and Sunday,12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, go to MPOWERBHM.com.

“

We truly want people to walk out the door feeling powered by how they can do both more physically than they thought, but also the impact they have on the community as a group coming together.

”

EMMA SUTTLES

A14 • October 2016

Village Living

Marigold Designs creates floral artwork By LEXI COON Sometimes passionate hobbies can turn into a business. Mary Cox Brown and her floral design studio in Mountain Brook, Marigold Designs, are proof of that. “After several years of teaching elementary school students, I began exploring my lifelong love of flowers as a hobby and a creative outlet,” Brown said. By working with smaller events such as wedding showers, baby showers and christenings, Brown said she realized she wanted to do more with her hobby. “I have always loved to entertain and ‘play’ with flowers. In 2012, I attended the Flower School of New York, where I was formally exposed to many basics of floral arranging as well as small business management skills and techniques,” she said. One year later, she opened her home-based studio, Marigold Designs. Although some business owners may not enjoy having their work at home, Brown prefers it, saying it allows her to be flexible while working with clients and their ideas. “We do it all,” she said. “From large weddings to that perfect birthday arrangement, and everything in between.” Her business has grown so much over the past three years that she said she had to adjust from teaching full time to creating floral arrangements full time. Recently, she has used her transition to work with the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation’s “Fashion for the Foundation,” the YWCA’s annual “Kids Korner Luncheon” and Better Basics’ “For the Love of Reading” events. This year, Marigold Designs will be a Floral Tastemaker for the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Antiques at The Gardens event. Her work, however, extends far beyond that of events and parties. “We listen to each client’s vision for their arrangement or event and work hard to bring it

to life,” she said. Orders can include standard arrangements, an intricate mailbox drape or a handmade wreath to brighten a doorway. “Everyone who knows me knows I love a beautiful wreath,” Brown said. “Wreaths are so welcoming and give a great first impression.” With the flowers she works with, she said she isn’t able to narrow down one specific type she loves the most. For the winter months, she leans more toward quince, but that shifts toward Coral Charm peonies during the summer and dahlia when fall begins. “For a year-round favorite, I love a Free Spirit rose,” she said. “It never fails me.” Just like her flowers, Brown acknowledges that her business is also season dependent, and has adjusted accordingly. “January is typically a month for planning and reflection rather than parties and weddings,” she said. “February brings the bustles of Valentine’s Day, and the warmer weather brings with it celebrations and events that follow one after the other through the rest of the year.” With a few years in a full-time floral studio behind her, Brown said she is excited for the future. “I love doing flowers and have grown as a floral designer so much in the past five years,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what we will do in the next five.” For more information, go to marigold-designs. com.

Above: Mary Cox Brown turned her passion for ﬂoral design into a thriving business. Photos by Lexi Coon.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A15

A16 • October 2016

Village Living

Community Canterbury businesses host party, garden walk Shoppers visit Canterbury Road businesses during the 2015 block party. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.

By LEXI COON Last year, the merchants of the shops on Canterbury Road hosted a block party to introduce new businesses and to open their doors to the community. “[At the party], people who have a difficult time making it in before we close came out and enjoyed a chance to shop for themselves or buy a gift after work and get dinner at the food truck, too,” said Elizabeth Adams, owner of Ex Voto Vintage Jewelry. “We loved seeing families out and about.” Now, the Mountain Brook community will be able to experience this night annually. On Oct. 5, Canterbury Road will be blocked off to traffic to make way for the now yearly Block Party and Village Garden Walk. Residents looking to enjoy extended store hours, business specials and creative floral decor can stop by between 5 and 8 p.m. to take in the experience. “Last year, many stores in the village had a botanical theme to their windows the night of the block party to kick off the start of Antiques in the Gardens. This year, we are creating more of an event around the floral windows aspect with the Village Garden Walk,” Adams said. Botanical and garden-themed windows created by local floral designers will fill storefronts, and the chamber wants all businesses to participate. “We have beautiful and unique boutiques here in the village and by each shop partnering with a local floral designer for their windows, we will really highlight the beauty and creativity here in the city,” Adams said. “The village is already a charming place to walk and window shop, and the windows at the Village Garden Walk should make the activity

all the more inspiring.” The evening will feature special guests and offer door prizes. Bromberg’s will have a wine tasting and guest jeweler Roberto Coin, Dram is creating a “special, ﬂoral-infused cocktail,” and the La Cantina food truck will be onsite. For those looking to dance, Will O’Rear and Brian Felder of the The Respectables will

perform. Guests will also be able to view a botanical installation on the center green of the village. The installation, created by Leah Hazard and Bill Ingram, is to celebrate the Antiques in the Gardens event that starts at 9 a.m. the following morning at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The Gardens is also promoting the Block

Party and the Village Garden Walk for its guests in town for Antiques in the Gardens and who may have arrived the night before. “The two events, Block Party and Village Garden Walk, will be a big draw for people local and visiting,” Adams said. “This is an evening with multiple layers of entertainment and should be a great night to be out and about in the village.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A17

A18 • October 2016

Village Living

Shop Save & Share back for 11th year of raising funds

Local designers and dealers will set up themed booths for Antiques at the Gardens. Photo courtesy of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Antiques return to The Gardens By GRACE THORNTON If you’re thinking about a new look this fall, the folks at Birmingham Botanical Gardens are ready to help you with that. Or rather, they’ve recruited a team of ﬂoral designers, dealers and Tastemakers with the skills to move your home to the next level, and they will all be available at Antiques at The Gardens, held Friday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 9 from 11 to 4 p.m. The Tastemakers — regionally and nationally known architects and interior and landscape designers — will curate themed areas with goods selected from the best of Birmingham and other sources around the country. And antique dealers will present antiques, furniture, porcelain, silver, ﬁne art, garden accessories and jewelry.

Tickets will be available for a lecture Friday at 11 a.m. with designer Jeffrey Bilhuber and a reception and book signing with Alabama native designer Richard Keith Langham at noon. For an extra cost, visitors can also attend a lecture with Michael Grim on Friday at 1 p.m. or a ﬂoral workshop with Grim that afternoon at 3 p.m. The workshop is limited to 20 participants, however, so check out tickets early. “Antiques at The Gardens is the largest annual fundraiser at Birmingham Botanical Gardens,” said Blake Ells, public relations coordinator for BBG. “It welcomes interior and ﬂoral designers from across the country to inspire the Magic City.” General admission tickets are $15. Proceeds go to fund the gardens’ educational programs. For more information, visit bbgardens.org/ antiques.php.

For the 11th year in a row, the Junior League of Birmingham will hold its Shop Save & Share fundraiser in October. This initiative supports the League’s more than 30 community projects while at the same time driving customers to local retailers and restaurants. When you purchase a Shop Save & Share card for $40, you receive a 20 percent discount on merchandise and food Kiki Nolen-Schmidt of the Birmingham Zoo, as well as Mary Diddell and Lindsey DeLong of Table at the fundraiser’s more than Matters are among the many Mountain Brook 500 participating stores and merchants participating in the Junior League of restaurants. Since its incep- Birmingham’s Shop Save & Share fundraiser. Photo tion, Shop Save & Share has courtesy of the Junior League of Birmingham. put over $475,000 back into shopping for holiday serving pieces and the community. This year’s Shop Save & Share program table décor. “This is a way we can give our shoppers will run from Oct. 19-30, and the Junior League of Birmingham is thrilled to have a great discount on table décor just in time Birmingham’s best retailers and restau- for the holidays,” said Mary Diddell, assisrants on board for 2016, including several tant manager at Table Matters. “We believe in the Junior League of Birmingham’s comlocated in Mountain Brook. When it comes to using your card, many mitment to community service and want to customers say the variety of retailers is support them, especially because of their what keeps them coming back year after close proximity to our store.” Some other Mountain Brook-area retailyear. The list is constantly growing, and this year, Shop Save & Share is partner- ers that will be participating in the 2016 ing for the ﬁrst time with new stores and Shop Save & Share event include Mountain attractions such as Cotton & Quill, B. Kids High Outﬁtters, Judith Bright Jewelry, The and Avani Rupa Fine Jewelers in Mountain Cook Store, B. Prince and Happy Nails just to name a few. Brook. Visit shopsaveandshare.net for a comThe Birmingham Zoo is also returning as a Shop Save & Share participant this year. plete retailer listing, to purchase a card, Restaurants are always an important part and for more information. Additional of the Shop Save & Share event, and this information about the fundraiser can be year is no different. Taco Mama, brick & found on social media on Facebook: Shop tin, Yogurt Mountain, Nothing But Noo- Save & Share, Instagram: @jlbshopsavedles, Avo & Dram, Newk’s Eatery, Maki share, or on Twitter: @JLBirmingham Fresh and more Mountain Brook restau- (#jlbshopsaveshare). – Submitted by Junior League of rants are participating. It is also a great time for to get in some Birmingham.

VOTE TUES., NOV 8

Paid for by Gary Palmer for Congress

SENSIBLE CONSERVATIVE AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP WWW.PALMERFORALABAMA.COM Paid for by Gary Palmer for Congress

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A19

Green thumbs set to gather at The Gardens Shoppers browse through plants on display at the Fall Plant Sale. Photo courtesy of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Costumed characters visit the library for A Night Dark and Grim. Photo courtesy of Emmet O’Neal Library.

A night at the library By LEXI COON By GRACE THORNTON Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs, and to get you ready, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host its annual Fall Plant Sale on Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 23 from noon to 4 p.m. Herbs, fall annuals, natives, shrubs, perennials and more will be available, and easy-togrow, drought-resistant trees will be for sale that have been chosen especially for Birmingham’s climate. The sale will also offer plants that are good hosts for butterflies, and many native plants that are available are expected to live for several generations. Proceeds will go to benefit educational programming at the gardens.

The gardens’ flagship program, Discovery Field Trips, has provided a curriculum-based science education to more than 130,000 Birmingham and Bessemer schoolchildren over the last 18 years completely free of charge, said Blake Ells, public relations coordinator for BBG. “The plants sold at our plant sales have been grown by our dedicated volunteers, and this group is also on hand at each sale to answer your planting questions,” Ells said. “Your purchases at our plant sales can be informed and be made with the satisfaction that a worthy cause will benefit.” The sale will be held in Blount Plaza and will be a rain-or-shine event. For more information, visit bbgardens.org/ fall-plant-sale.php.

On Oct. 21 at 6 p.m., the Emmet O’Neal Library will host its sixth annual fairy-tale themed family event, A Night Dark and Grim. Geared toward all ages, games and crafts will be set up throughout the library. “Last year we had games outside, we had games inside, we had a maze, we had a photo booth,” said Library Director Sue DeBrecht. “We just had so many activities.” Visitors will be able to have their faces painted, try some themed snacks, adopt a balloon animal and take pictures in a photo booth. Being a Halloween party, the appropriate attire is fundamental. “We encourage everyone to come in

costume,” DeBrecht said. While guests participate in the activities, heroes and villains from favorite childhood stories such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Frozen,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Peter Pan” also will be making special appearances. Toward the end of the evening, live characters will continue to join guests and their families on the lawn across the street for a singalong about the adventures of Rapunzel and her charismatic chameleon from the movie “Tangled.” “It doesn’t matter what school your kids go to or where you live, [A Night Dark and Grim] is open to all residents,” DeBrecht said. “Just enjoy the evening with [your] family. It really is such a great family event.”

A20 • October 2016

Village Living

Alabama USGA Men’s State Team members announced

Steven Groover. Photo courtesy of Stephen Bradley.

The Alabama Golf Association (AGA) has announced its selections to represent the state of Alabama at the USGA Men’s State Team Championship at The Country Club of Birmingham on September 28-30, 2016. The Alabama team will be represented by Matt Johnson, 36, of Dothan; Woodie Eubanks, 40, of Trussville; and Steven Groover, 31, of Birmingham. Johnson, the third-ranked amateur in Alabama, was a member of the 2014 Alabama USGA State Team and won the 2011 Alabama State Mid-Amateur. This year, Johnson advanced to the semifinals in the Alabama State Match Play Championship at the Country Club of Brewton and finished T19 at the Alabama State Amateur held in June at The Country Club of Birmingham. Eubanks, who is fifth in the Alabama Men’s Amateur rankings, qualified for the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and finished sixth at the State Amateur. He was also in the field of the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur at The Country Club of Birmingham. Eubanks is the 2008 Alabama State Mid-Amateur Champion, as well as the 2011 Alabama State Four-Ball Champion. This will be Eubanks’ fifth USGA championship appearance.

Veteran amateur Steve Hudson of Birmingham has been selected to serve as team captain for Alabama. Hudson is a nationally ranked senior and a five-time AGA champion including winning this year’s Alabama Four-Ball with Robert Nelson of Fairhope. The USGA Men’s State Team field includes three players to represent each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The format of the tournament will be 54 holes of stroke play. The two lowest of the three scores will be counted for the team’s daily total. The Country Club of Birmingham will host its second USGA championship in three years. In 2013, it hosted the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, where Mike McCoy of Iowa won the title. The club has hosted numerous AGA championships and USGA qualifiers including this year’s 100th Alabama State Amateur Championship. The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-forprofit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of over 130 member clubs represented by nearly 18,500 individuals. For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit alabamagolf.org. – Submitted by Stephen Bradley.

Will Hecker becomes Eagle Scout Troop 320 Boy Scout Will Hecker, son of Frederica and Bill Hecker, became an Eagle Scout on Aug. 11. For his Eagle project, he led 27 volunteers in building ﬁve cedar picnic tables for Mountain Brook Baptist Church’s Preschool. During construction, Will designed four additional small side tables using the scrap lumber cut from the picnic table boards. If you get the opportunity, you can see preschool children or small Bible groups enjoying the picnic and side tables at Mountain

Brook Baptist Church’s playground. Will received the Arrow of Light from Pack 320. He was inspired and encouraged by older Scouts Tye Barton and Rob Ritchie to continue with Scouting. Will’s favorite troop camping trip was to Pensacola Naval Air Station to tour the U.S.S. Independence. His troop leadership positions include Scribe, Instructor, Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader. He was recently tapped for the Order of the Arrow and attend the September ordeal. Will celebrated his Eagle

by going camping with his Troop. Will serves as an acolyte for his church and plays the tenor saxophone in the Mountain Brook High School Marching Band, the Mountain Brook Junior High School concert band, and the Jazz Band. He is a second-degree black belt and helps teach karate at Crestline Elementary School with International Karate. He plans to ﬁnish high school and attend college to obtain a business degree. – Submitted by Frederica Hecker.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A21

Martial arts class coming to SNaP schedule By ERICA TECHO Eric Cottingham started studying martial arts at age 14, and at age 32 and as a second degree blackbelt, he is bringing his knowledge to students at Emmet O’Neal Library. Cottingham, or Sensei Eric, will teach a SNaP Martial Arts program on Oct. 27 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. While Cottingham did not begin officially practicing martial arts until 14, he said he still remembers his first martial arts experience. An instructor visited his elementary school and taught a few basic moves, something Cottingham said stuck with him over the years. “It [martial arts] was the first thing that gave me real confidence and self-discipline,” he said. Because he has so many positive associations with martial arts, Cottingham said he hopes to pass that along to students through the SNaP program. The one-hour program will include time for stretching and brief instruction on some of the basic principles of martial arts. Cottingham plans to include lessons on balance and mindfulness, as well as the note that martial arts is not something to be used to pick a fight.

A martial arts course for kids will be taught at Emmet O’Neal this October. File photo.

Martial arts should be used “only to defend yourself or defend someone who can’t defend themselves,” Cottingham said, reiterating the lessons he was taught. Participants will also learn a few basic positions and take turns doing punch and kick drills as well as target striking with their hands and feet. Cottingham said there is no dress code, but students should wear something that is secure and in which they are comfortable moving. The martial arts program will be held in the meeting room on the ﬁrst ﬂoor of Emmet O’Neal Library, and it is open to students in third through sixth grade. For more information, go to the library’s website at eolib.org.

Costumes and candy come together for the annual Mystics of Mountain Brook parade. Staff photo.

Mystics coming to Crestline By GRACE THORNTON

MBHS senior earns Eagle Scout rank Clay Higinbotham earned the rank of Eagle Scout on July 11. He was a member of Troop 63 at Canterbury Methodist Church for more than 10 years. His Eagle project was building a chicken coop for Urban Ministries Community Gardens. Clay is a senior at Mountain Brook High School, an SGA representative, on the MBHS track team and a member of the rock band called Apollo. Clay is the son of David and Kristi Higinbotham of Mountain Brook. – Submitted by Kristi Higinbotham.

Photo courtesy of Kristi Higinbotham.

It’s the same place, same date and same time every year, and Casey Wright Horn said it’s guaranteed to be fun. The Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade will be Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. in Crestline Village, rain or shine. It’s a family-style event fashioned after Mardi Gras — parade participants will throw T-shirts, stuffed animals, moon pies and beads, organizer Horn said. “That’s what makes it a big hit,” she said. Horn and her brother, Trent Wright, — both originally from Mobile — started the parade because they wanted to bring a little Mardi Gras to Mountain Brook. “Our mom’s birthday is on Oct. 31 also, so we’ve always done big Halloweens,” Horn said.

Their Halloweens are just getting bigger thanks to the parade — last year about 3,500 people attended. The event is sponsored by local businesses, Horn said, and it will include a float competition and prizes. Dancers and cheerleaders from the middle school and high school will be part of the parade, as well as a possible appearance by the Mountain Brook High School marching band. Local Boy Scout troops and sports teams will also be a part. The parade — which features about 25 floats — starts at the library, makes a circle through Crestline Village and lasts about 45 minutes. For information or to contact Mystics about entering a float, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/MysticsOfMountainBrook.

A22 • October 2016

Village Living

Workshop addresses addiction recovery for individuals, families By EMILY FEATHERSTON

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will host The Journey: A Day on Addiction and Recovery workshop Oct. 15. Photo by Emily Featherston.

The Department of Recovery Ministries with the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama will host a daylong workshop at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church for those dealing with addiction, as well as their loved ones. The Journey: A Day on Addiction and Recovery workshop on Oct. 15 will feature speakers, break-out groups and anonymous sessions to discuss different aspects of addiction, as well as the stories of those who have battled it and won or who watched their family and friends struggle. The two keynote speakers will be Michael O'Keefe and Travis Meadows. O'Keefe is an actor known for his roles in "Caddyshack," "The Great Santini" and "Roseanne," and is the author of a book of poems titled "Swimming From Under My Father," which highlights how addiction has inﬂuenced

his life and relationships. Meadows is a country music songwriter and musician who has written for artists such as Dierks Bentley, Eric Church and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and after a long-struggle with addiction achieved sobriety in 2010. The workshop will also feature break-out sessions which will allow attendees to learn more about the underlying causes of addiction, youth and young adult issues, recovery options and more. There will also be a Recovery Eucharist at the close of the workshop, and lunch will be provided. Registration is $20 per person, but ﬁnancial assistance and group rates are available. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is located off of Overton road at 3775 Crosshaven Drive in Cahaba Heights. For more information and to register, visit journeyday.info or contact event organizer the Rev. Paul Pradat at 256-924-5418.

Birmingham Zoo to be accredited by international nonproﬁt By LEXI COON It’s no secret that zoos must be held to high standards for both their inhabitants and their guests. This past September, the Birmingham Zoo proved again that it reaches above and beyond what is required by becoming the only zoo in the state to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. According to its website, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, or AZA, is a nonproﬁt organization that is “dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science and recreation.” As an international organization, they represent over 230 institutions worldwide, including the Birmingham Zoo. But it wasn’t always that way. “A lot of things have changed, especially in

the last 15 years,” said Kiki Nolen-Schmidt, marketing coordinator for the zoo. “In the ’90s, the zoo didn’t have enough money to operate the way it needed to operate, and it lost its accreditation [with the AZA].” The zoo later became a private institution in 1999, which allowed it to grow. “After that, there were several years where they aired capital to grow it to what it is now,” which includes the new Children’s Zoo and the Trails of Africa, Nolan-Schmidt said. Beginning in the early 2000s the zoo earned its accreditation back every ﬁve years, which is the allotted renewal time period. To become an accredited member of the AZA, zoos must reach the high standards of the organization and go through a rigorous application process. Each zoo must submit

anything and everything they have done since their last application, which includes paperwork on animal care, conservation, research and marketing projects. “Standards are constantly changing. The things we had in place to be accredited ﬁve years ago are now even higher,” Nolen-Schmidt said. Next, a team of inspectors visits the zoo to verify its quality. The inspectors are employees from other accredited zoos who also work on the AZA committee. “There’s four to ﬁve days of going throughout the zoo, checking anything from cracks on sidewalks to safety gates on tiger exhibits,” said Nolen-Schmidt. “While they’re here they also meet with different staff to get how the zoo is operating and to check out the morale.” With the results of the application and

inspection, a report is put together and reviewed by an independent accreditation commission for the AZA and results are revealed at the annual AZA conference. “[This accreditation] means that the Birmingham Zoo is somewhere that the community and guests can feel that they’re really getting the most out of the experience,” said Nolen-Schmidt, “and that the animals are house in way that is natural and that they receive the best care.” To continue their work, the zoo is working on a capital campaign to raise money for a new front entrance next to the Children’s Zoo and a new event lawn within the complex. Both are projected to be completed sometime in 2017. Once construction on those renovations are ﬁnished, the zoo will begin their project to create an Asian Passage Exhibit.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A23

Kampakis publishes 2nd book for mothers, daughters By SYDNEY CROMWELL It was while she was on tour with her ﬁrst book, “10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know,” that Kari Kampakis came up with the idea for her second. She noticed that mothers and teenage daughters who read her book kept asking the same questions. “I thought most of their questions would be related to boys or self-esteem, and all their questions — I would say 95 percent — were related to friendships and issues they were having,” Kampakis said. Kampakis, a Mountain Brook resident since 2002, has been writing since she was pregnant with her fourth daughter, who is now 10. She also has a widely read blog, karikampakis. com, and she writes a monthly faith-related opinion piece for Village Living. Even before she began her ﬁrst novel, Kampakis said poetry and other writing was always something she did for fun. “I can look back and see that maybe I should have always been a writer,” she said. Her second book is “Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?” and it comes out later this month. Kampakis said the book was about a year and a half in the making and covers many of the topics she frequently hears about from the mothers and daughters she meets: social media, friendship, personal identity and developing a deeper Christian faith. Kampakis said she wants the book to be a

bridge for moms and daughters to talk with each other about important things, and she feels one of the most valuable chapters is about insecurity and dealing with negative opinions from other people. The advice and stories in the book came from her own life lessons as a mother, as well as conversations with other parents she knows. “I like to surround myself with smart people,” Kampakis said. However, she also delved into her own memories of being a teenager and the feelings of jealousy or insecurity that persist even as an adult. “If I’m feeling it at 44, then these girls are really going to be feeling it at 14, 15, 16,” Kampakis said. Though she keeps a list of interesting stories, blog topics and other ideas as she comes across them, Kampakis said she’s not sure if she’ll immediately dive into a third book. She said she feels like she’s finished, at least for the moment, with topics addressing teen girls and is considering ideas about a book for mothers. However, first she wants to take a break, go to some events with her second book and see if inspiration strikes again from her conversations with readers. “Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?” will be available Nov. 15 at all major book retailers, including Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Kampakis said she hopes to stock the book at Snoozy’s as well, since the store carried her first book. Go to liked-book.com for more information.

Kari Kampakis’ second book, “Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?” Photo courtesy of Kari Kampakis.

A24 • October 2016

Village Living

KEEPING SCARY OUT OF SWEETS

Alert parents raise awareness about children with food allergies ahead of trick-or-treating

By JESSE CHAMBERS Halloween can be a lot of fun — costumes, parties, trick-or-treating. But for kids with food allergies and their parents, the holiday can be frightening. Many Halloween treats contain ingredients — eggs, food dye, peanuts, for example — that can cause horrible physical reactions in people with certain allergies. In fact, if a food-allergic child accidentally eats, or is otherwise exposed to, an allergen, it can be a life-threatening situation, said Dr. Maxcie Sikora of the Alabama Allergy and Asthma Center in Homewood. Food allergens can cause a reaction called anaphylaxis, leading to constricted airways, severe lowering of blood pressure, shock and suffocation. Such reactions result in about 150 deaths per year, the FDA estimates. Understandably, Halloween festivities create a large amount of anxiety for parents, Sikora said. So how do kids and their families enjoy Halloween while coping with health risks than can be more frightening than any ghost or ghoul? There is no easy ﬁx, and parents and their children must remain vigilant, as they do year-round, for foods their kids must avoid. But according to Sikora and Leann Kinnunen of Mountain Brook, it is also critical to talk to neighbors and family members about the real risks of food allergies at Halloween and other holidays. Kinnunen’s 8-yearold son, Marko Maglic-Kinnunen, suffers from food allergies. Many Americans need to develop a greater

As the holidays arrive, with Christmas parties and family dinners, food-allergic kids and their parents will face challenges. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.

understanding of the problems food-allergic people face, Sikora and Kinnunen said. To keep kids safe on Halloween, communication with neighbors and family members, especially before trickor-treating, is critical. “For parents, educate the people around you,” Kinnunen said. “That’s the only way that you will get allies who will be on your side and help you out — is when they know about food allergies, and they care.” “Educating your neighborhood” is important, Sikora said. “Talking to parents ahead of time is better for your child in general.” Marko is allergic to almost 10 food substances, including tree nuts, eggs and some food dyes, but he has outgrown three allergies, including peanuts.

“

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A25

For parents, educate the people around you. That’s the only way that you will get allies who will be on your side and help you out — is when they know about food allergies, and they care.

”

LEANN KINNUNEN

“He didn’t even trick-or-treat,” Kinnunen said. “We didn’t even look into what candies he might be able to eat. When he grew out of the peanut allergy, we do trick-or-treat with friends of ours.” When Marko started trick-or-treating, Leann and Steve would ask the people at each stop if they had any safe treats, but now Marko will ask for them, according to Kinnunen. “Marko is a big advocate for himself,” she said. “Halloween [is] actually pretty easy, because I’m always going trick-or-treating with my friend, and I give her the candy that I can’t eat,” Marko said. Communication between parent and child is important — at Halloween or any other time. “You should start talking about your children’s food allergies with him or her from day one,” Kinnunen said, who recommends that parents be “matter-of-fact and calm” in discussing the issue in general, and especially going into any new situation like a party or trick-or-treating. Marko doesn’t look at his food allergies as if they are a big deal, his mother said. “I just think that everyone had to deal with their own thing, and this is what I have to deal with,” Marko said.

Both Kinnunen and Sikora speak glowingly of the Teal Pumpkin Project, sponsored nationally by FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), in which homeowners can display special signs to signal parents that safe, nonfood treats are available on Halloween. The program is helpful, because some of the parents are so fearful they don’t even let their children go trick-or-treating,” Sikora said. As the holidays arrive, with Christmas parties and family dinners, food-allergic kids and

their parents will face other challenges. “Family members may not believe allergies are real or think a little bit won’t hurt them or they will grow out of it, and here is a big celebration with lots of food … and there are a lot of things your child can’t eat, and [people] are touching or kissing your child,” Kinnunen said. “It is terrifying.” One problem is a lack of public awareness. “People in general do not understand food allergies,” Kinnunen said.

Paid for by the Campaign to Keep Judge Pat Thetford, P.O. Box 130815, Birmingham, AL 35213

And there is a great need for people to be more socially aware and more sympathetic to some of these issues these children have to deal with, Sikora said. The FARE Walk for Food Allergy will be at Veterans Park in Hoover Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m. The walk raises money for research and education. For more information, go to www.kintera. org. For more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, go to foodallergy.org.

A26 • October 2016

Village Living

‘The Klass’ now in session Mountain Brook resident writes book inspired by Alabama conspiracy theory By ERICA TECHO Dan Klasing started his career as an author without telling anyone. The Mountain Brook resident and Hooverbased attorney would come home from work, sit in his den and write — and all the while, his family didn’t know what he was working on. “I was done with the first book before I actually told my wife and children that I wrote a book,” he said. Klasing, the author of “The Klass – Tyros,” “The Klass – Doyens” and a third unwritten novel, knew he wanted to write a book but kept putting off that dream. “As an attorney, I write a lot,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to write a novel; in fact, this one has been in my head for maybe 20, 25 years. Until the kids grew up and all that, I really just didn’t have time to sit down at any time to start writing.” One day, Klasing said he chose to take the plunge. He finally sat down and got to work, and 10 months later, his first novel was finished. “The Klass – Tyros” came out in February, and his second book came out in September. Both books could be described as conspiracy or action/adventure books, Klasing said, with a hint of science fiction. The novels follow a group called The Klass, a Southern conspiracy to take over the South and attempt to secede from the U.S., Klasing said. It is set in modern times. A few historical flashbacks take readers back through The Klass’ history, setting the stage for how generations of work went into the group’s plan. “My thinking was if the South was actually going to again break off or secede, how would

that even be thinkable in the broad sense?” Klasing said. “And I thought, well, it would have to start a long time ago with preparations.” Inspiration for the novels, as well as The Klass, struck Klasing while he was an undergraduate student at Auburn University and later as a law student at University of Alabama. “You may have heard of The Machine at Alabama,” he said. “I heard about that when I was in college… [and] it just kept hitting me that, gosh, this has to be the start of a story — a good conspiracy story.” Rumors and theories of The Machine combined with a fortuitous plane trip, where Klasing sat next to a man who said he was an engineer who worked on aircraft engines and had previously worked at Area 51. After chatting on their ﬂight from Las Vegas to Birmingham, Klasing said the man sent him pictures of military aircraft, and inspiration hit. “Basically I combined those two things into The Klass,” he said. “It’s just the very beginnings of the story.” While The Machine helped shape some ideas for The Klass, Klasing said his novels are not a commentary on The Machine or on Alabama. Friends and acquaintances who were in fraternities and sororities at Alabama have also reacted well to the book, he said. Centered on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa, most Alabama readers will be able to connect to the story’s setting and atmosphere, Klasing said. Characters in the novel, including Klasing’s favorite — Bubba, a “good ol’ boy from Greenville, Alabama” who is also No. 1 in his aerospace engineering program — are loosely based on the personalities of people he has met throughout the years, pulling from different individuals to build those

Dan Klasing, a Mountain Brook resident and Hoover-based attorney, has published two books: “The Klass – Tyros” and “The Klass – Doyens.” Photo courtesy of Dan Klasing.

occupying the world of The Klass. As an attorney who normally has to focus on facts, precision and argument, Klasing said entering a world that is “100 percent creative” was a nice reprieve. “It was almost like the story was unfolding, and I was writing it down,” he said. “It was

fun to step into just this other world entirely, and I could make up and then get to know the characters as I wrote them and develop them as the book went along.” Klasing will have a book reading of his second novel at Emmet O’Neal Library Oct. 16 at 2 p.m.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A27

A28 • October 2016

Village Living

Awakening the artist within Around this time last year, Carrie Pittman decided to step away from her job as a ﬁnancial planner and became a fulltime artist. Photo by Erica Techo.

By ERICA TECHO Art supplies used to be Christmas presents Carrie Pittman requested and then never used. Now, art supplies are used to pay the bills. About three years ago, Pittman picked up her art supplies and started mixing colors and making things up. “I went through what I would say for me was a very difficult time and just felt like, instead of resorting to other things, I just decided to really tap into what I was feeling and just start painting,” Pittman said. She said she never planned for people to see her work, but one day Mountain Brook-based decorator Virginia Volman asked her to paint something for one of her clients and for her own home. “I just said, ‘I can’t do that,’ because I didn’t want to do it,” Pittman said. “I didn’t want the pressure; I didn’t know how to handle any type of business transaction.” Volman eventually encouraged her to hold an art show out of Volman’s home, and Pittman stayed up about three nights straight to create 45 paintings for her first show. She made about $4,000 that night. “I realized I loved doing it, and there were people who were interested in purchasing it,” Pittman said. “So that was the first person who saw my art and liked it and believed in me.” Even after realizing art could be more than just a part-time hobby, Pittman remained in her job as a financial planner for more than two years. She worked for the family business, Pittman Financial Partners. Pittman said stepping away from that job was a difficult decision. “I’m very close to my father; he’s a very good friend of mine, and I felt like I was letting him down,” she said. Over those two years, she said she struggled with juggling her clients in the 9-to-5 world and the art world. Her heart was with art, she said, and she found herself wanting to talk

about painting or art rather than wanting to be in the ofﬁce. “I think when the light went off was when my company had goals for me to reach, and I realized that I could reach them, and I wanted to reach them,” Pittman said. “But if I did whatever I had to do to be in that job, I was going to have to give up painting completely. I was going to have to give up my artwork and creating, and I can’t imagine not being an artist.” At the end of 2015, she stepped away from her secure job and out on a limb to pursue art full time. “Even though I didn’t know how I was going to support myself, I knew just if I loved what I was doing and I worked hard at it, it would work out,” she said.

After about six months of being a full-time artist, Pittman said she has been “humbly overwhelmed” by the amount of support she has received. In addition to commissioned pieces, her work is on display in several galleries, including at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook, and she entered a partnership with At Home Furnishings in May. The store in downtown Homewood now carries many pieces of her artwork. The future for Pittman carries more than just canvases. She is working to develop a line of paper, pillows, fabric and apparel with her artwork. Stepping into a world outside of traditional media is another way to share her artwork, and it opens her work to a wider range of people, she said.

“In working with a lot of decorators, I do think there’s a lot of ways to incorporate art into a room other than just a painting,” Pittman said. After 15 years of changing jobs and not feeling fully satisfied, Pittman said she is grateful to be able to create for a living and share her art. She said she hopes people through her experience see that they should pursue what is fulfilling to them, even if that first step is scary. “I think more than anything, I love encouraging people to figure out what they love to do and to believe in themselves,” she said. “I have good days and bad days like anybody, but if you really love what you do and you believe in who you are, that can become a platform for people.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A29

Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

10 thoughts for my 10-year-old daughter There are certain people in this world who soften me when I look at them. My daughter Marie Claire is one of them. Maybe it’s her rosy cheeks. Or her starry eyes. Or her lyrical voice as sweet as honey that reminds me of a fairy. Then again, it could be what I know about Marie Claire that isn’t readily apparent. Like how kind, tenderhearted and compassionate she is. How she knows what to say to a friend who’s been hurt by another child. How she listens before she speaks and often makes remarks that make me think, “Wow, that’s really wise.” Clearly, there are many qualities that I admire and love about my girl. But if I had to pick a favorite, I’d choose her joyful spirit. It doesn’t take much to make Marie Claire happy. It really is the simple things — like having a dance party in the kitchen, or jumping on the trampoline with friends — that make her radiate. I want her to keep that light. I want her confidence and self-esteem to last for years to come. Where Marie Claire is now, fast approaching her 10th birthday, is the sweet spot before adolescence. As I think about what typically happens to girls in adolescence — how their confidence and self-esteem often begin to erode starting around fifth grade — I want to hug my baby tight, reaffirm who she is, and point her to the truth. Because only the truth can help her as she wrestles with life’s big questions and finds her place in this world. The first decade of Marie Claire’s life was major, and this next decade will be, too. From age 10 to age 20, she’ll evolve from childhood to womanhood. It’s crazy and hard to fathom

that these changes are even normal, because in my eyes she’ll always be the little girl who loves to dress up, play pranks and spray her bedroom with aromas from Bath & Body Works. Following are 10 things I want Marie Claire to know as she enters this next decade. 1. It’s OK to grow up at your own pace. It’s good to take your time and do what’s right for YOU. Our world pushes girls to the fast track. It wants you to paint your face with makeup, dress in revealing clothes and aim to look 20 when you’re really 13. Why? Because believing you need embellishments to look beautiful and desirable will make you buy whatever people sell. It’s a selﬁsh ploy, and I hope you see through it. I hope you trust your instincts and remember that the best part of your appearance — the one that ultimately sets you apart — is the light that shines from within. It costs nothing, yet it’s worth everything. As Anne Lamott says, “Joy is the best makeup.” 2. Being a leader sometimes means standing alone. It means making a brave choice nobody else is making, like sticking up for the kid being teased or avoiding a party where there’s sure to be trouble. 3. Nothing ruins a friendship faster than jealousy and competition. So when you’re jealous of a friend or secretly trying to one-up her, pray to get your heart in the right place. Remember that what’s good for your friend is good for you because you’re both on the same team. 4. Feeling different is completely normal. We all feel different because we are different. God created you uniquely so you can serve your generation like no one in the universe has ever served before. Rather than wish to be like

everyone else, look for ways in which your authenticity can be used for His purpose. 5. Every choice has a consequence, and the choices you make today impact the opportunities you’ll have tomorrow. While making positive choices (like working hard in school) will open doors down the road, making negative choices (like failing to apply yourself) will close doors. Whatever choices you make, be prepared to live with them. 6. Be kind to everyone, but distance yourself from negativity. Trust your gut instincts when you feel like a friend or group you spend time with would drop you in a heartbeat or purposely leave you out, because these instincts are usually correct. 7. Knowing who is good for you — and who isn’t good for you — is the key to healthy relationships. While good relationships give you the courage to be yourself, toxic relationships crush your spirit. They cause more stress, tears and drama than genuine joy, laughter and happiness. Learning to recognize when a relationship isn’t working — and having the courage to walk away when the warning signs appear — is an important life skill to develop. 8. There’s no such thing as a perfect friend or perfect relationship. While you should have standards for the people you allow in your innermost circle — expecting a certain level of trust and respect — you should also leave room for grace and forgiveness. All of us make mistakes and occasionally hurt the people we love. Don’t give up on a friend just because they messed up or did one thing you don’t agree with. 9. The best way to build conﬁdence is to challenge yourself and accomplish a goal

outside your comfort zone that forces you to stretch, grow, and master new skills. 10. Not everyone deserves a voice in your life. Not everyone has opinions worth your time and attention. When deciding whether to listen to a person, ask yourself this: Do I respect this individual? Do they have a history of making good choices in their own life? Do they genuinely love me? Do they care about my future? If I had a big decision to make, would I seek their counsel? Do they draw me closer to God and enhance my relationship with Him? If you answer no to any question, then think twice before taking their words or advice to heart. Most of all, Marie Claire, I hope you always remember how unconditionally loved you are. As much as your daddy and I love you, your heavenly Father loves you even more. He’s the only true expert of you, for only God has known since the beginning of time who you are, why you exist and what you were born to do. Happy 10th birthday, my little ray of sunshine, and thank you for your light. You’re a joy to know and a joy to raise, a sweet blessing in my life for which I am so very, very grateful. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four girls, columnist, and blogger for The Hufﬁngton Post. Her newest book, “LIKED: Whose Approval Are You Living For?” releases Nov. 15 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Her ﬁrst book, “10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know,” is available everywhere books are sold. Join Kari’s Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer,” visit her blog at karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@karikampakis.com.

A30 • October 2016

Village Living Mayor-elect Stewart Welch, seen here with his wife Kathie, started his career as a life insurance agent before founding a financial advisory firm, The Welch Group LLC, in 1984. In discussing how his experience can benefit the city, he said, “I am not intimidated by looking at large numbers ... My hope is I’ll be able to use those skill sets, particularly around the businesses that are here in Mountain Brook.” Photo by Lexi Coon.

WELCH

CONTINUED from page A1 “The part I loved was not selling insurance but actually digging in deeper to a family’s personal finances and coming up with not an insurance answer, but a broad answer to solve wide-ranging financial issues,” Welch said. “That drove me to start a company, which back then was really unusual, and is this fee-only financial advisory firm.” Welch’s business, The Welch Group LLC, formed in 1984 to aid people in smart investments. His company is a fee-only business, which means they aren’t trying to sell potential investors any type of product; they are simply there to give financial advice that is in the best interest of each client. Looking back on his decision, Welch said, forming the business was a risk, but he knew that’s what he wanted to do. “I had saved enough money to pay expenses for three years, and I figured in three years I would figure it out and make it go, or worstcase scenario, I could come back to the life insurance business,” he said. Now, 32 years later, Welch owns not one, but two financial advisory firms and will be transitioning his abilities to take the Mountain Brook mayor’s seat in November. “I’m nervous and excited,” he said. “I’ve always known that this is a special community, but I didn’t know how special it was until I did the due diligence in accepting the mayor’s position.” While he said his wife was not thrilled with the idea of him running for the mayor’s office, Welch said she has come around. “She’s going to be a great partner for me,” he said. Since his election, Welch has been preparing for his new career by sitting in on recent City Council and budget meetings. “I thought I would be bored to tears, but I found it really interesting,” Welch said of the budget meetings. His experience with finances and marketing has helped him believe that many of the skills he uses as a financial adviser will carry over into being mayor.

“I am not intimidated by looking at large numbers, and I think that’s a big beneﬁt,” he said. “My hope is I’ll be able to use those skill sets, particularly around the businesses that are here in Mountain Brook.” Through working with local businesses, Welch wants to focus on the quality of life within the city. “What are things that we could do to improve a community that really feels like it’s hitting on all cylinders?” he said. The more success a community and its businesses have, the more people are drawn to it,

Voted

BEST OF MOUNTAIN BROOK Village Living Best Mexican Food

Welch said. The more people who are drawn to it, the more the problems the city has with parking. “We’re always trying to ﬁgure out ways to address that,” he said. In addition to keeping the city successful and managing the parking problems, Welch said he wants the residents of Mountain Brook to have the ability to communicate with their government when they need to. He wants people to be more active, including those of the younger generations in Mountain Brook. “I think it’d be really fun to connect

with 12- to 14-year-olds, junior high, high school, really young people,” he said. “I would love to try to ﬁgure out how to connect with these various generations that would let them kind of constantly peep behind the curtain to see ‘Well, here’s what’s going on.’” On Nov. 7, Welch will implement some of his ideas within Mountain Brook as he takes the mayor’s ofﬁce. “I’m nervous because Terry’s done such a good job,” Welch said, laughing. “My job is to not mess it up — that’s job No. 1. Job No. 2 is to do [my] very best.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • A31 SUPPORT

CONTINUED from page A1

The “blessing of the hands” done after volunteer trainings at Forge. Clockwise, from bottom left: Susan Sellers, Debra Caine, Barbara McCray, Corita Fincher, Lena Simmons, Linda Moon, Madeline Harris, Gulcan Bagcivan and Alia Tunagur. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Di Piazza.

Fast-forward several years, and she’s helping run a program that’s doing just that — Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center, a community-based therapeutic program aimed at offering holistic support for breast cancer survivors. It’s special, she said, because it’s “pretty unique” on the nationwide medical scene — it’s a noncompetitive collaboration of the city’s medical care systems: Brookwood Baptist Health, Grandview Medical Center, St. Vincent’s Health System, UAB Medicine, UAB School of Nursing and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham all came together for the project. Rebecca Di Piazza, Forge project director, said that kind of collaboration is unheard of. “There’s nothing like this anywhere where you have all of these competing organizations coming together for the betterment of patients and caregivers,” Di Piazza said. “That’s our biggest accomplishment. We’ve got the smartest minds in health care in one of the most competitive health markets in the country meeting monthly to try to address needs, implement change and eliminate barriers for care.” As a result, Forge is able to offer a range of services from the moment of diagnosis until end of life or remission, she said. Funded by the Women’s Breast Health Fund, the program has dozens of trained advocates who can mentor survivors and connect them with support services, community resources and counseling. “Our advocates are trained volunteers who work with survivors within their health systems,” Di Piazza said. “They can go with them to appointments and help them with logistical issues like transportation, and they can help them with adjusting to what we call the ‘new normal’ that they’re living in.” Forge also offers a 24/7 telephone support line for survivors and their families. The program doesn’t offer medical advice, but it offers everything it can in the realm of social support coordinated with area health systems, she said.

“It’s a joy to be able to serve women and their families as they are going through this journey. When you’re dealing with a diagnosis, it’s a lot, and you shouldn’t have to be battling it alone,” she said.

PERSONAL CONNECTION

Forge’s services are needed, Di Piazza said, because data show that in 2015, there were an estimated 3 million cancer survivors nationwide, and 77 percent of those surveyed said they would be most comfortable talking about their cancer questions with another survivor. But many of them struggle to get the support they need, and many of them find themselves facing more fatigue-related issues and health problems than before their diagnosis, according to the survey. Sellers said data like that is a significant force behind Forge’s mission. It’s why she, Di Piazza and founder Madeline Harris have no problems justifying why Forge is a worthy cause to invest their lives in. And for Harris — like Sellers — breast cancer is personal. “My daughter was diagnosed with it the day before her 35th birthday,” Harris said. Her daughter had three small children. And she had no family history of cancer. “I worked for 25 years with UAB,” Harris said, who co-founded and directed the UAB Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Center, now the Breast Health Center at Kirklin Clinic. “But it’s very different when it’s your own child. It really gave me an insight from that perspective.” And Forge is meant to be the place that families like hers in five surrounding counties can go to get resources, ask questions and “have someone with a bended ear,” Harris said. It’s a patient-centered model Harris said she believes will be replicated nationwide for breast cancer survivors, as well as survivors of other diseases. Competition and barriers are coming down in the Birmingham area in the breast cancer treatment realm, and “we’re ahead of the game on that,” she said. “It is phenomenal. It is really unprecedented. And we are excited about it.” For more information, go to forgeon.org.

Village Living

SECTION

Sports B4

COLUMBUS DAY SALE!

School House B8 Calendar B18

OCTOBER 2016

.com

The wait

is over Decades in the making, Lane Parke readies to open doors to the public By LEXI COON

hen Rele Evans was a sophomore in college, he helped his father, Aurelius Augustus Evans, contractor for Evans Construction Company, survey land in Mountain Brook — land that he would one day redevelop and live on. That land now holds the new Lane Parke shopping center. A few years later, Rele Evans graduated from Tulane University and went to Air Force flight school in the early 1950s, where he flew fighter planes for another three years. Because he didn’t intend to stay in the military his whole life, Rele Evans later applied to the Hughes Aircraft Company. “I just applied as an engineer, but they found out I had a flying background and immediately wanted me to join their flight-test organization,” he said. “So I did. I got back to flying again and flew for another three years. I flew all kinds of stuff, including supersonic aircraft.” Like his time in the Air Force, however, Rele Evans’ adventure as a test pilot was short

lived. He went back to school to earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in engineering from UCLA and also secured a job with the technology company Space Tech Labs, now called TRW, Inc. “[This company] had a lead role in developing the space program,” he said. “I had an assignment to help develop some of the guidance equipment for the lunar landing.” Rele Evans worked with Space Tech Labs throughout grad school John Evans, left, and his father Rele have been working on updating the Lane Parke shopping center for and after graduation. years, and now the first tenants are opening up this fall. Photos by Lexi Coon. He was later transferred to the Houston area, where his son, John Houston to Mountain Brook, assumed the role died in 1993. Evans, grew up, to work in associHis death triggered a family inheritance as vice president. ation with NASA for about 10 years. The father-son team had big ideas for Lane In 1980, Rele Evans moved to Mobile to battle which complicated ownership, but it Parke, but were hindered by constant flood help his father with the family business. By eventually ended in a settlement. “Lo and behold, when it was all over, John threats that loomed over their complexes. that time, Aurelius already had developed the original Lane Parke apartments and shopping and I and my daughter owned everything,” Rele Eventually, the city realized that potential flood Evans said. center in Mountain Brook Village. He then took over as president of the comRele Evans worked alongside his father as See OPENING | page B16 vice president of the company until his father pany, and John Evans, after moving from

B2 â&#x20AC;¢ October 2016

Village Living

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ B3

B4 • October 2016

Village Living

Sports

GET TO KNOW ...

The month of October presents the Spartans with three straight Class 7A, Region 3 games. Photo by Barry Stephenson.

McKee Brown MBHS

Spartans push to make playoffs By KYLE PARMLEY The Mountain Brook High School football team has one last chance to make a charge to its first postseason berth since 2013, following consecutive losing campaigns. The month of October presents the Spartans with three straight Class 7A, Region 3 games, which precede the regular season finale. An open week on Sept. 23 leads to a home game against Tuscaloosa County on the last day of September. The Spartans then travel to take on longtime rival Vestavia Hills Oct. 7 at Thompson Reynolds Stadium. The Rebels and Spartans have matched up on the field at least once in every season since 1971, including five times in the state playoffs. The meetings between the two teams in this decade have been fairly even, with Mountain Brook winning four of the seven games since 2010. However, Vestavia Hills owned last year’s contest and ran away with a 37-7 victory.

On Oct. 14, Mountain Brook takes its last road trip of the regular season. Heardmont Park will host the Spartans’ game against Oak Mountain. The game will feature two teams that historically have sound defenses. Last fall, the Eagles capitalized on three Mountain Brook turnovers to win, 21-14. Oak Mountain has won the last two matchups of the two teams, but the Spartans hold a 6-4 edge in the all-time series. Mountain Brook closes out its region slate with a game against Huffman Oct. 21. The teams have played sporadically over the years, with the Vikings holding the overall advantage, 14-12. The Spartans have won five of the last six meetings. Last year, the Spartans won 17-0 in their season finale on the back of five turnovers. This season, Huffman marks a region foe, the only new face in Region 3. The Spartans conclude the regular season at home against Ramsay Oct. 28. The programs have matched up just once before, with Mountain Brook winning 14-0 in a 1974 game.

Q: Favorite social media platform? Why? A: Twitter, because it has the funniest people on it. Q: Favorite Olympian? Why? A: Michael Phelps, because he has the most medals.

Senior

5’5

132

Impressed coaches with his toughness last fall after the Spartans dealt with a rash of injuries.

Q: If you were a baseball player, what would your walk-up song be? A: Call Me the Breeze by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Q: Who’s your No. 1 draft pick in an NFL fantasy league? A: Antonio Brown. Q: What show are you binge-watching on Netﬂix right now? A: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. - KYLE PARMLEY

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ B5

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Photos by Sarah Finnegan

B6 • October 2016

Village Living

EMM

OR G L I K

Emmy Kilgore believes the Spartans can be successful because of their chemistry off the court. Photo by Kyle Parmley.

ER T T I ER

ELL

Ellie Ritter has become the calm leader for the Spartans, but her impact remains strong. Photo by Kyle Parmley.

VIES A D NE

OLI R A C

Caroline Davies said winning a third straight championship would be “icing on the cake.” Photo by Frank Couch.

TRIO charge in

Senior Spartans guide volleyball squad in hopes of winning another title By KYLE PARMLEY

Spartan trio is looking to go out with a bang. Caroline Davies, Emmy Kilgore and Ellie Ritter are all hitters on the Mountain Brook High School volleyball team, and they are the three senior leaders who will propel the team on its journey through the duration of the 2016 fall season. Expectations are high for a program that has won consecutive Class 7A state championships, the first two years of existence for the highest classification in the Alabama High School Athletic Association. Davies and Kilgore have been on the varsity squad since they were freshmen. Ritter is in her second year with the top group, so all three know what it’s like to reach the top of the mountain and win it all. They have also seen first-hand how seniors and upperclassmen before them have guided a team to reach its goals, and will look to apply those lessons to their own leadership styles. “We’ve gotten to watch really great leaders in the past couple years,” said Davies, who singled out Sara Carr and Sara Chandler Mitchell as examples from last year. The Spartans had a similar situation last year, with Carr, Mitchell and Payton Selman the three seniors on that team. Davies continued, “We take what we liked from them and make it into our own, and it’s really different having all the younger ones look up to you.” Coaches say all the time that every team is different, even if the core remains intact from one year to the next. Each group gels together in a unique way and the dynamic of a unit shifts each season. “Leadership in our program is outstanding,” head coach Haven O’Quinn said. “The veteran players take past experiences, both positive and negative, and

understand how to use them to make them matter. Our three seniors are playing with no regrets and are providing a great foundation for the rest of our roster.” The Spartans have transitioned from a veteran-laden team to one featuring a mix of young and old, with five freshmen the most O’Quinn said she has ever had on one team. For that reason, the three seniors had to have a conversation before the season started, because they realized that all of their leadership styles were nearly identical; fiery and to the point. “We were a little bit more snappy,” Davies said. Understanding that not everyone responds best to that type of encouragement and/or criticism, Ritter has become the calmer voice when that is needed. But don’t mistake a softer voice for making any less of an impact. “When she says something, everyone gets quiet,” Davies said. The girls see that need for leadership not only on the floor during matches, but maybe even more so in practices, especially early in the season while the younger players are still adjusting and becoming comfortable. “I was very intimidated,” said Ritter, speaking from experience. “I can’t even imagine how scared (the freshmen) are with all us.” “We have two or three drills where it’s really hard,” Davies said. “We know going in that we’re going to run if we don’t get this. Being a freshman, scared out of my mind, I didn’t want to get the ball.” Davies wants to make sure the current wave of youngsters overcomes that hurdle quicker. She said, “But we told them, you’ve got to keep being aggressive. Everyone makes errors; no one’s perfect, so there’s no point in holding back. That’s what our seniors used to tell me, and it helped a lot.” Kilgore contends that the reason the Spartans have the potential to be so successful on the court is because the team, specifically the seniors, is so close away from the sport.

“We’re really close and volleyball has brought us closer,” Kilgore said. “We’re all very tight-knit, we talk in a group text all the time. We’re very close to each other.” That friendship also lends itself to the ability to trust one another on the court. Kilgore plays on the outside while Ritter and Davies are middles, but they all share total confidence in one another. “All three of us can put the ball down, especially Emmy and Caroline,” Ritter said. “ I think both of the middles have come a long way with our blocking, but that’s something we have to continue working on. You can always count on Emmy and Caroline.” Combine the three seniors with the production of Lacey Jeffcoat, who many coaches say is the best libero in the state, and many other key contributors, the Spartans have as good a chance as any team to hoist the blue map toward the end of October. The Area 6 tournament will take place on Oct. 17, and the super regionals later that week should the Spartans qualify. The state tournament is set for Oct. 26-27 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Each player summed up her hopes for the season in a different manner. Winning a third straight state title would “be icing on the cake” for Davies, but she is certainly not taking anything for granted. “This year, we want to reach our full potential,” she said. “It’s starting to become real that we’re going to be graduating soon.” Ritter said that the Spartans cannot win without “good ball control,” and added, “We have to work on focusing throughout the whole process.” Kilgore has the same answers for anyone who asks about her final season at Mountain Brook. She said, “All the time, people say, ‘what do you want?’ I always say I want to win another state championship…We know what it takes and it’s a lot of hard work, and we’re willing to put that in, and hopefully that’s the outcome.” “Just want to end with a bang,” Davies said.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ B7

B8 • October 2016

Village Living

School House BWF installs WeatherSTEM in outdoor learning laboratory

Principal Nathan Pitner and Assistant Principal Christy Christian with the Ashford family: Mason, Charlie, Branne and Andrew. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Woodry.

BWF kicks off the new year The halls of BWF were filled with excitement of the new school year with students, parents and teachers on Monday, August 8. The morning started with kindergartners and newcomers coming to BWF to meet their teachers and tour the school. In the afternoon, teachers and staff welcomed back students for the annual Meet the Teacher which gave students and parents the opportunity to visit classrooms before the first day of school, allowing students to find their classrooms and meet the teacher. – Submitted by Kathleen Woodry.

Brookwood Forest Elementary broke new ground this summer by turning its new outdoor learning space into a research laboratory, complete with its own weather station. By becoming a flagship school with the WeatherSTEM program, Brookwood Forest joins the mission to connect classrooms and communities to the world around them. The weather station in Brookwood Forest’s Outdoor Learning Lab uses real-time weather data, agricultural data, a cloud camera and scores of other data-rich information to help learning come to life for teachers and students. According to Principal Nathan Pitner, “In addition to Brookwood Forest’s own weather forecast information, we have sensors that collect data on the moisture and temperature of the soil, wind speed, heat index and so much more. One of our favorite features is a time lapse video of the cloud cover over Brookwood Forest Elementary each day.” An unending stream of authentic data is unmatched for studying math and science at Brookwood Forest, but the benefits go even further. While families in the Mountain Brook community will enjoy the local weather information, local meteorologists, universities, emergency responders and researchers have new opportunities to support their efforts, as well as the people who live and work here. The buzz of excitement is evident around the school, as they wait to see students exploring the endless possibilities provided through WeatherSTEM. You can find the Brookwood Forest Elementary WeatherSTEM Unit online at jefferson-al.weatherstem. com/bwf. Download the ‘WeatherSTEM’ mobile app from Apple App Store or Google Play. You can also follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/ BWFWxSTEM and like them on Facebook at facebook. com/174169216334247. – Submitted by Kathleen Woodry.

BWF math coach John Woolard and Luke Hunnewell with the weather station at Brookwood Forest. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Woodry.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • B9

Franklin Long, James Robicheaux, Henry Singley, Will Eagan and Hudson Williams in Mrs. Akin’s ﬁrst-grade class work together to build a ramp for toy cars to travel across the room. Photo courtesy of Lauren Lunceford.

Cherokee Bend creates MakerSpace classroom Teachers at Cherokee Bend Elementary worked over the summer to create a MakerSpace room at the school. A MakerSpace is simply a place for students to explore, discover new ideas and create. While there are a lot of ways to incorporate technology into a MakerSpace, teachers intentionally designed this space with basic materials to help students learn to be innovative thinkers and problem solvers. Supplies were gathered from old science kits, leftover art supplies and classrooms

around the building. The MakerSpace features a dry erase wall for drawing and brainstorming, a green screen for ﬁlming, a Lego wall for students to design and build, and a closet full of supplies. As students work in this space and have opportunities to explore their own interests, our hope is that we can invest in a variety of materials, resources and technology tools to continue to encourage our makers as they pursue their passions. – Submitted by Lauren Lunceford.

Bo Stallcup with his kindgerarten teacher, Phyllis Farrar. Photo courtesy of Mary Evans.

Crestline kindergartner shares insights from first few days Kindergarten…It is a milestone like no other. Bo Stallcup, son of Allison and Stephen, shares some reflections from his first days at Crestline. Q: What has been your favorite thing about your first few days of kindergarten? A: Everything! Probably the Gingerbread Man hunt. There were clues and you had to go room to room...computer room, library, but he was hiding in the lunchroom! Q: What is your favorite thing about

your new classroom? A: Probably friends or the loft. Pretty much you can see the whole room from the loft, but you have to lean over right to see the computer. Q: What are you the most excited about learning this year? A: Special classes. Music, art and Spanish. Is Spanish one? Oh yeah, Spanish. Q: Tell me about your new teacher, Mrs. Farrar. A: She’s nice and smart and she has a computer! – Submitted by Mary Evans.

B10 • October 2016

Village Living

Crestline team places Top 20 in global Destination Imagination tournament

Crestline’s Meme Team preparing for competition. Photo courtesy of Mary Evans.

Left to right: Boyd and Cate Cooper, Addie Cobbs, Gilchrist owner Leon Rosato, Woodson Canterbury and Louis Howland. Photo courtesy of Shaun Flynn.

A group of fourth-grade students from CES recently competed in the Global Destination Imagination Tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wiley Cooper, Patton Hahn, James Hard, Frederic Smith and Banks Tessier made up the group named the Meme Team, and they were fearlessly led by Heather Phillips, one of Crestline’s PAGE teachers. The Meme Team is the ﬁrst team from Mountain Brook to compete at the Global level in the Destination Imagination Tournament. The Meme Team ranked Top 20 in the Instant Challenge category, which is an “innovation under pressure” task. They competed against teams from around the world as they were required to engage

MBE after-school tradition continues

in quick, creative and critical thinking. The challenge was given in a private room with judges and no time for preparation as the group worked within a time constraint to deliver the best possible solution. The Destination Imagination mission is to develop opportunities that inspire the global community of learners to utilize diverse approaches in applying 21st century skills and creativity. The Meme Team won both the regional and the state competition in their category to qualify for Globals. Over 20 countries and 8,000 students competed in the Global Competition. – Submitted by Mary Evans.

In 1928, the family-owned soda fountain shop, Gilchrist Pharmacy, opened its doors in Mountain Brook Village. Just one year later, the ﬁrst elementary school opened its doors to the Mountain Brook community... and a special relationship was formed. For the past 87 years, MBE students have been gathering at Gilchrist after school to enjoy its famous cherry limeades, chocolate milkshakes and pimento cheese sandwiches. Gilchrist

staff have always welcomed the 3 p.m. rush of students with open arms. Owner Leon Rosato states, “On our busiest day of the week, we serve up to 100 children from MBE and the surrounding Mountain Brook schools.” For the children and teens of Mountain Brook, the after-school tradition of Gilchrist represents a safe haven where they relish the laughter, long-standing friendships, and great food and drink. – Submitted by Shaun Flynn.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • B11

Huge successes from AP course offered at MBJH Mountain Brook Junior High offers the fastest growing AP course sponsored by the College Board. In 2016 over 187,000 students took the AP exam in Human Geography. First offered in the early 2001, AP Human Geography is one of the newer AP courses. Nationally, approximately half of the students who enroll in the course are in the ninth grade. The course allows students to learn the same material that college freshmen learn. During the past two years that MBJH has offered the course, there has been extraordinary success. One hundred percent of MB students who took the class and the AP exam became eligible for college credit — a remarkable fact considering the national average is approximately 52 percent. Lisa Lewis, a 10-year veteran history teacher at MBJH, heard about the course, and with the help and support of the administration and school board, brought it to our school. She has taught the class for the past two years and begins her third this school year. She ﬁrst became interested when she asked the question, “Is there more that we can offer students

who have great success in regular geography?” Lewis notes that geography as a subject is often misunderstood. While many people think geography is simply learning about where places are located, Lewis prefers to think of geography as the “Why of Where” — where are certain trends observable; where do certain customs and practices exist; and why do these things occur in one place and not another? Students in AP Human Geography study population, migration, cultural patterns and processes, political organization of space, agriculture, food production, industrial and economic development, cities and urban land use. While the course is open to any student who wishes to take the class, students should have a strong interest in current events and world affairs as well as a strong work ethic. AP Human Geography is an attractive elective for students who want to be challenged, want to try something new, are looking for something outside their comfort level or simply enjoy geography. – Submitted by Hayley Young.

Kade Worthen receives his new Chromebook from Vice Principal Brook Gibbons. Photo courtesy of Monica Sargent.

MBJH, foundation partner to provide technology bundle to all 9th-graders Technological innovation is changing the way students learn and the way schools teach, and MBJH teachers and administrators believe that technology is a tool that can be instrumental in a student’s growth during the junior high years. The use of technology in the classroom not only helps prepare students for the real world but it also helps address diversity in learning styles and fosters collaboration among students. Over the past few years, Mountain Brook Junior High has made tremendous investments in its students and their educational opportunities through technology. Initially, MBJH introduced over 800 Chromebooks to core classrooms which resulted in substantial beneﬁts for its students. As a result of this success, Mountain Brook Junior High once again partnered with the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation and decided to issue companion devices to every ninth-grade student for the 2016-2017 school year. Beginning in 2015-16, Mountain Brook High School issues companion devices to its students and found that such devices were a

major benefit to the students’ learning. As a result, MBJH established a focus group of parents, students, teachers and administrators to determine if companion devices would be beneficial for ninth-grade students. Such research and conversations resulted in a conclusion that companion devices would be beneficial to ninth-graders and would assist in their transition to the high school. For the 2016-17 school year, all ninth-grade students received a technology bundle to assist them with their learning. The technology bundle includes a Dell touchscreen Chromebook, on-site technology support and repairs, filtering, management, secure Wi-Fi access and software (Google Apps for Education and Microsoft 365). MBJH partnered with the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation to provide the technology bundle to ninth-grade students for a minimal fee. All ninth-grade students received a device on the first day of school and will have access to them throughout their high school career. – Submitted by Monica Sargent.

MBE welcomes 10 new staff members

Under the new leadership team of Principal McCombs and Vice Principal Aaron, MBE welcomes the following staff members. – Submitted by Shaun Flynn.

Pictured left to right are Dana LaRussa (special ed assistant), Karly Miller (PE), Tamsyn Osborn (special ed assistant), Kristi Stacks (PAGE), Laura Helen Swann (second grade), Kelsey Mellott Frey (kindergarten), Mary Catherine Clark (special ed teacher) and Cynthia Maldonado (special ed teacher). Not pictured are Elisabeth Rohlfs-Hill (sixth grade) and Lindsey Ehsan (reading coach). Photo courtesy of Shaun Flynn.

B12 • October 2016

Village Living

Restaurants gather at Taste of Mountain Brook

Above: Cameron Flowers serves up some Davenport’s Pizza at Taste of Mountain Brook. Right: Mountain Brook Fire Department members Eric Meyer, left, and Justin Baker, join a group of children under the downpour of water supplied by a ﬁre hose at Taste of Mountain Brook on Sept. 18 in Crestline Village. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.

Restaurant owners from across Mountain Brook gathered on Hoyt Lane on Sept. 18 for the second annual Taste of Mountain Brook. Taste of Mountain Brook beneﬁts the programs of All In Mountain Brook. Though scattered showers occasionally sent diners scurrying under tents, the crowd got to sample dishes from appetizer to entrée to dessert. Participating restaurants included Church Street Coffee and Books, La Paz, Black Sheep Kitchen, Miss Dots, Maki Fresh, Taco Mama, Piggly Wiggly, Urban Cookhouse, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Grille 29, Yogurt Mountain, Bongiorno Italian Restaurant, Davenport's Pizza, Whole Foods and Tracy's. Several MBHS groups, including the cheerleaders, jazz band, Dorians and chamber choir, also performed and the ﬁre department set up a hose for children to play in the water. Learn more at allinmountainbrook.org.

VillageLivingOnline.com

Clockwise, from above: Executive Chef Kirk Gilbert of The Grand Bohemian Hotel talks with community members about the gazpacho he served at Taste of Mountain Brook. Grace Rediker, 4, assists Mountain Brook Fire Department firefighter William Caldwell in rolling up a fire hose. Yogurt Mountain supplied community members with samples of frozen yogurt.

October 2016 • B13

B14 • October 2016

Village Living

Above: Mountain Brook High School student Kathryn Sours’ shiny outﬁt made it to the ﬁnal round of the Rising Design Star challenge at Birmingham Fashion Week 2016. MBHS senior Alice Jordan Pulliam modeled Sours’ design. Right: MBHS junior Kate Edmonds models John William Price’s design at Birmingham Fashion Week. Photos by Erica Techo.

Mountain Brook student selected for SCAD scholarship at Birmingham Fashion Week By ERICA TECHO Mountain Brook student Kathryn Sours, 17, was one of three students selected during Birmingham Fashion Week for SCAD scholarships. SCAD offered a $1,500 per year scholarship to high school seniors and a free one-week summer seminar at SCAD for other students participating in the Rising Design Star challenge. Birmingham Fashion Week took place from Aug. 25-27 at Boutwell Auditorium in downtown Birmingham. This was Sours’ second year participating in Birmingham Fashion Week’s Rising Design

Star challenge, and she said seeing her friend model her design during the 2015 Birmingham Fashion Week fueled her to compete again. Sours was one of five Mountain Brook residents who participated in Birmingham Fashion week’s Rising Design Star challenge this year, and one of two who made it to the finals. John Price, 19, was the other finalist. Finalists’ outfits were shown in one last runway show on Aug. 27, the last night of Birmingham Fashion Week. MBHS students also participated in Birmingham Fashion Week as models. Alice Jordan Pulliam modeled Sours’ design, and Kate Edmonds modeled Price’s design.

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • B15

For Ryan: Family establishes burn foundation in memory of child By SYDNEY CROMWELL Faced with the unimaginable loss of their 7-year-old son, Ryan, in a car wreck in 2001, Ron and Dawn Hirn were left rudderless as they tried to navigate their grief. They were left not only with emotional scars but also physical ones, as the fire that had taken Ryan’s life had also left burns on their bodies and on their son Tyler. But in the 15 years since that day, the Hirns got down to the difficult task of moving forward with their lives and raising Tyler and his brothers, Trenton and Colton. However, the Mountain Brook residents wanted to do something to honor Ryan’s memory and help children who had survived a similar ordeal. “I think that was always in the back of our minds, to do something in memory of Ryan,” Ron Hirn said. They started a foundation initially in 2004, which they used to give donations to children they heard about whose lives were affected by burns. The Hirns also thought of starting their own summer camp for young burn victims. “We didn’t know what it would entail, but something to honor Ryan, something that would be lasting beyond us when we’re not here. Something that would kind of make good out of that,” Dawn Hirn said. However, they decided to create a nonprofit with a larger scope. In February 2016, Village Living featured the Hirn family’s six-month trip around the world, bringing along with them a videographer and Ryan’s favorite Pokemon backpack. Dawn Hirn is working on finding a TV network interested in showing the series created from the trip’s footage, “Our Backpack.” But the family now has another project: the Ryan Shines Burn Foundation. The foundation, which is a registered

Left: Camp Conquest is a Children’s Harbor camp for burn victims, which Ron and Dawn Hirn have supported for many years. Their son, Tyler, has attended the camp for seven years. Above: Ryan Hirn passed away in a ﬁre as a result of a car wreck in 2001. Photos courtesy of Dawn Hirn.

nonprofit, has four goals: The first is the support of Camp Conquest, a Children’s Harbor camp for burn survivors that Tyler has attended for seven years. The Hirns have been involved with the camp for years, supporting it with financial donations, and one year, cooking a pancake breakfast for the entire camp. The other goals are to fund college and trade school scholarships for burn survivors, immediate assistance for families after a fire, and fire education and prevention programs both for adults and young children. Dawn Hirn said she’s also hoping to build a special emergency

app that anyone, even a child, can use to call emergency services for a ﬁre. Someday they would like to have enough funding to completely pay for Camp Conquest each year. One of the challenges burn victims, especially children, face is the way that visible burn scars can attract attention and comments, Dawn Hirn said. Helping burn victims meet each other and giving them an opportunity to continue their education can help children gain conﬁdence and security as they grow up.

“I don’t have a problem showing all my burns on my legs, but I’m an adult. A child, many of them that are burned, they don’t go in public, they’re embarrassed,” Dawn Hirn said. “[Camp Conquest] is a huge deal for these kids who want to hide their bodies.” While they hope to receive individual donations, the Hirns are planning to use a percentage of proceeds from a network purchasing “Our Backpack” to fund the foundation. Though there are a lot of good causes to give time and money to, the Hirns said they are hoping Ryan’s story will inspire people to donate on behalf of burn victims in Birmingham and beyond. “Hopefully we can do some good in this area, and maybe if we can branch from there that’d be great, too,” Ron Hirn said. “I think Ryan would want to know that we’re doing something to keep his memory alive. It’s a small thing, but you know that doesn’t necessarily make it an unimportant thing.” Learn more about the Ryan Shines Burn Foundation at ryanshines.com.

B16 • October 2016

Village Living

OPENING

CONTINUED from page B1

Lane Parke sits directly across from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens along Lane Park Road. “A Celebration on Rele Street,” named after Rele Evans, will take place Oct. 20 as the ofﬁcial opening of the shopping center. Photos by Lexi Coon.

waters could affect Mountain Brook Village as well, and became involved in addressing the problem. “When we saw that they were going to seriously address the ﬂooding, we decided it was time for us to consider redeveloping the property,” Rele Evans said. “Because we had 50-, 60-year-old buildings, and they weren’t getting any younger.” Rele and John Evans quickly started their research to determine the best course of action, but were soon blindsided by the 2008 recession. When they returned, they “realized ﬁnally that [they] were totally in a new world, and needed to go to somebody who knew that world,” Rele Evans said. The duo met with the Daniel Realty Company in 2012, which divided the redevelopment into three parts: the apartments, the hotel and the shopping center. “The big deal then was mixed-use,”

Rele Evans said. “People like to live close to work and walk to where they want to go.” The apartments were completed in June 2015, and Rele Evans, now a board member of Evson, Inc., soon took up residence there in an apartment overlooking the shopping center. However, neither he nor John Evans, who is now the president of the company, own the apartments or hotel. Their only concern was keeping the shopping center. “The retail was something we did not want to sell,” Rele Evans said. “We wanted to retain that and assume the role as the owner.” Because the plan proposed by Daniel Realty Company would have left them as the minority owners for the retail, John Evans arranged the loan with Iberia Bank and took over redevelopment. “The city is really excited about the project,” John Evans said. “The last thing they wanted was a ﬁfth village within the city of Mountain Brook. We wanted it to look like it belongs.” Now, after watching the shops grow from his apartment window, Rele Evans, along with

VillageLivingOnline.com John Evans, is able to enjoy the center and all it has to offer as the tenants begin to open up their doors to the public. The shopping center, which spans 66,640 square feet, is divided into 12 spaces for both retail and restaurants. “Since the [Planned Unit Development] was approved, we’ve stayed right within the framework,” said Robert Jolly, CEO of Retail Specialists, Inc. The ﬁrst tenants moved into their spaces in April and have since been customizing their storefronts. Western Market, which has been in Mountain Brook for the past 54 years, is moving to the new Lane Parke shopping center and creating their own, larger space. “[The new building is] 8,000 square feet larger than the old location,” said Darwin Metcalf, COO and president of Western Market. “And our employees actually helped design their own departments.” Even though the individualization of multiple stores with separate contractors can cause logistical challenges, Jolly said everything has gone rather smoothly. There are two open spaces available for tenants, and there have been many applications for the corner locations. The prospective businesses are being chosen carefully so as to not offset the balance created within the shopping center. “It’s very important in the retail world that the tenants complement each other and that you think through every decision you make,” Jolly said. “You don’t want to have to have tenants that compete with each other. You want tenants that complement each other.” Recently, there were changes to the tenant list for Lane Parke, as YEAH! Burger has decided to no longer open in Birmingham. The shopping center also has added another undisclosed tenant between B. Prince and KSO. Due to the location of the shopping center, it will be easily accessible to residents of both the Lane Parke Apartments and the Grand Bohemian. “It’s interesting because each of the components of the development consider the other component the anchor, the real attraction to the development,” Jolly said. “It’s a really neat situation that in one site you have three components

October 2016 • B17

Tenants (as of Sept. 8): ► Kinnucan’s Specialty Outfitters: Known to its loyal customers as KSO, the store carries brands fit for all active lifestyles. ► The Local Taco: A restaurant that focuses on the blend between Tex-Mex flavors with the Southern food culture. ► M&S Interiors: A home furnishing outlet for both casual and one-of-a-kind décor. ► CharBar No. 7: A new-to-Birmingham restaurant “where quality meets casual” that features a mid-priced menu with a variety of tasty options. ► Revelator Coffee Company: A specialty coffee company that had simple beginnings in New Orleans and now has headquarters in Birmingham. The shopping center currently has 10 tenants preparing their shops, with some coming to Mountain Brook for the first time.

that beneﬁt from each other.” To honor the completion of Phase 1 of the development, Rele Street (pronounced “real”) will be closed to trafﬁc and opened to the public Oct. 20 from 3 to 7 p.m. for a “Celebration on Rele Street.” Originally named “Evans Avenue,” the city would not allow that name because the dimensions for the street do not meet the requirements to be an avenue. “So somebody at the city named it Rele Street,” Rele Evans said. Residents from surrounding communities will be invited to take part in the grand opening, which will be reminiscent of a street festival complete with special discounts, food, craft beer and live music.

Phase two of the project, which is not scheduled to begin until the lease for the Rite Aid in the existing shopping center has ended in 2019, will bring additional tenants. Construction plans are to demolish the existing buildings to the edge of the older Western Market in order to make way for another 45,000 to 50,000 square feet of retail space. The new shops, which have yet to be chosen, will help create a more upscale boutique shopping location in the Mountain Brook center. “I’ve been looking at the plans for the retail for 10 years, and to see it built is amazing to me,” John Evans said. “Once the retail is all completed, it’s a legacy to my grandfather and father.”

► A’mano: A tenant of the current shopping center, this studio will feature objects for an artful life from both local and international artists. ► B. Prince: Returning to its roots, B. Prince, formally called Betsy Prince, will ﬁll its shelves with original, unusual ﬁnds. ► Western Supermarkets: A current shop in Mountain Brook, the new space will offer a wider selection of goods to include local, organics, produce, wine, seafood, craft beer and groceries. ► P2 Platinum Pilates: A Pilates studio relocating to Lane Parke that focuses on balance, power and lifestyle.

B18 • October 2016

Village Living

Calendar Mountain Brook Events Oct. 5: Block Party in Mountain Brook Village. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Canterbury Road. Celebrate fall in Mountain Brook Village. Shop hop, live music, food truck, door prizes and more. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com. Oct. 29: MBHS A Relay Freaky 5K. 8 a.m. Jack-

son Boulevard in Crestline. A spooky 5K fun run for all ages beneﬁting Relay for Life. Oct. 31: 13th Annual Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade. 4 p.m. Crestline Village. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com.

Mountain Brook High School Football Schedule Oct. 7: @ Vestavia Hills, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: vs. Huffman, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: @ Oak Mountain, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28: vs. Ramsay, 7 p.m.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Events Oct. 1: Autumn at Moss Rock Preserve. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Walk to the glades. $45 members, $50 nonmembers.

Thursday & Sunday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.5 p.m. Sunday. Free for members, $15 admission.

arch Butterﬂy Journey with Lanie. 3:30 p.m. Ages 5 and up. $20 members, $25 non-members.

arch Butterﬂy Journey with Lanie. 2 p.m. Ages 5 and up. $20 members, $25 non-members.

Oct. 4: Thyme to Read Book Club. 6 p.m. Discussing “My Southern Journey” by Rick Bragg. Free.

Oct. 12: Lunch & Learn: Ask the Experts! 11:30 a.m. Bring garden related questions to ask the panel. Free.

Oct. 14-15: The Science and Art of Green Roofs. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday. $110 members, $125 non-members.

Oct. 22-23: Fall Plant Sale. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Free admission.

Oct. 6-9: Antiques at the Gardens. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Oct. 13: American Girl Girls Just Like Me: Mon-

Oct. 16: American Girl Girls Just Like Me: Mon-

Oct. 29: Dirt Dash 5K Run and Family Walk. 8 a.m. $15-$30.

LJCC Events Mondays, through Dec. 19: Beginning Bridge Lessons & Open Play. 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Taught by Clay Hall, who has played bridge for 40 years and taught for 20 years. This is a 12-week series for those interested in learning to play bridge or need some refreshing. Cost: $150 MVP/$175. Through Nov. 4: Gotta Get Up to Get Down. Small group training program with a group and a trainer once a week. Team 1- Friday 5:30 a.m.

Team 2- Tuesday 5:30 p.m. Price $195 (MVP) $225 (Reg). Mondays and Wednesdays: 365 Junior Performance training. 3:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Grades 1st-3rd. 365 junior will allow kids to start developing and improving their athletic skills as well as learning proper technique during exercise. We will create a fun non-competitive environment. Price $75 month (MVP).

Tuesdays, through Dec. 6: Intermediate Bridge Lessons. 10 a.m.-noon. This is a 12-week course for those who have taken the beginning bridge class. Cost for the book is $20 may be purchased from the teacher. Cost: $150MVP/$175. Register online. October 6-21: Beginner Mah Jong Lessons. 1-2:30 p.m. $30, free for LJCC Members. This is a four-week series offered on Thursdays.

Oct. 9: Pooch Plunge. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. For one day only we are opening up the outdoor pool for our four legged friends. $10. Vendors, food, music, and more. All dogs must play nice with each other and be up to date on all of their shots. Oct. 10: Camp 365 School’s Out Camp. 9 a.m.3:30 p.m. with early drop off and late pick up. Fee: $45/$35 member value price.

Jacqueline Dillon DeMarco, PhD

Clinical Psychologist Individual and Couple Therapy (Adults ages 18+)

Mood Disorders • Grief • Trauma • Anxiety Stress Management • Relationship Issues 500 Ofﬁce Park Drive • Suite 216 • Mountain Brook, AL 35233

(205) 718-5433

VillageLivingOnline.com Oct. 20: Shakin’ in the Shack for Sukkot. 11 a.m. Free. Shake the lulov and Etrog and enjoy a delicious shake with your friends in the Sukkah. Oct. 21: AARP Technology Classes. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Oct. 22-23 & 29-30: Theatre LJCC Presents

October 2016 • B19 “Mrs. Nelson is Missing!” Saturdays at 7 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. Oct. 24-Dec. 16: Diabetes Wellness Program. Two weekly 60-minute exercise sessions under the supervision of a ﬁtness professional in the ﬁtness center. Free of charge to anyone living with diabetes.

Emmet O’Neal Library Mondays: Toddler Tales Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays: Together Time Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays: Library Out Loud. Go! 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays: Evenings at EOL. 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays: Mother Goose Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays: Movers & Makers. 1:30 p.m. Thursdays: Patty Cake Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Thursdays: SNaP. 3:30 p.m. Grades 3-6.

teen advisory board, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29: Teen Trivia: Halloween Edition. 6:30-8 p.m. Adults Wednesdays: Brown Bag Lunch Series. Programs begin at 12:30 p.m. Bring a sack lunch; beverages and dessert provided. Oct. 8: Yoga & Poetry with Marie Blair. 10 a.m.12:30 p.m. Oct 10: Great Books discussion group, 6:30 p.m. Oct 11: The Bookies book group. Discussing Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, 10 a.m.

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

Oct 15: Nightmare on Oak Street Horror Double Feature. Ages 18 and up. Dinner provided, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Oct. 10: STEAM Powered: Halloween Science. 4 p.m.

Oct 16: Afternoon with author Dan Klasing (The Klass and Doyens), 2 p.m.

Oct. 11: Family Night: ArtsMagic with Arthur Atsma. 5:30 p.m.

Oct 18: Documentaries After Dark. Film about the Amityville haunting, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 21: Etc.: Grim – characters, games, photo booth, prizes, face painting, movie on the lawn. 6 p.m.

Oct 25: Genre Reading Group. Cookbooks, 6:30 p.m.

Young Adults Oct. 1: Game On! 1-4 p.m. Oct. 4: TAB/READ Club. Monthly meeting of the

Oct 27: Trivia Night: Horror Literature Edition. Ages 18 and up. Call 445-1121 to register your team of 1-4 people. Oct 29: Yoga & Poetry with Marie Blair, 10 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Area Events Oct. 1: Broadway Night at the Cabaret. RMTC Cabaret Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Some of Broadway’s best perform. Tickets start at $20. Visit redmountaintheatre.org. Oct. 1: “The Truth” About Breast Cancer Comedy Tour. 7 p.m. Featuring Carla “The Truth” Youngblood. Historic Carver Theater. $15. Visit keepyoulaughing. com. Oct. 1: 14th Annual Fiesta Birmingham. 12 p.m.8 p.m. Linn Park. Presenting the best of Hispanic art, music, food and dance. $10. Visit ﬁestabirmingham.com. Oct. 1-2: Alabama Ballet at Home. Alabama Ballet Center for Dance. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $20. Visit alabamaballet.org. Oct. 2: Fry-Down. 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Railroad Park. Fundraiser for the Cahaba River Society. $20 donation all you can eat catﬁsh. 12 and under, free. Visit frydown.com. Oct. 3: BAO Bingo. Birmingham AIDS Outreach. 7 p.m. $15 for 5 games. Visit birminghamaidsoutreach.org. Oct. 6: Tiempo Libre. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Free admission. Visit alysstephens.org. Oct. 7-8: Alabama Symphony Orchestra EBSCO Masterworks Series. 8 p.m. Performing Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. $25-$74. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Oct. 7-9: 12th Annual Barber Vintage Festival. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. daily. $25. Visit barbermotorsports.com. Oct. 8-31: Boo at the Zoo. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Birmingham Zoo. Visit birminghamzoo.com for more information.

Oct. 15: Susan G. Komen North Central Alabama Race for the Cure. 8 a.m. 5K/1 mile walk. Visit komencnalabama.org. Oct. 15: Barktoberfest. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Helena Amphitheater. Presented by Two by Two Rescue. Kid zone, pet adoptions, live music and more. Visit twobytworescue.com. Oct. 21-22: Alabama Symphony Orchestra EBSCO Masterworks Series. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $25-$74. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Oct. 21-23: Alabama 500 Weekend. Talladega Superspeedway. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Fred’s 250 NASCAR Camping Word Truck Series. Sunday, Sprint up Series. Visit talladegasuperspeedway.com. Oct. 22: Walk With Compassion. 9 a.m. Railroad Park. Walk to end child poverty. Visit walkwithcompassion.com. Oct. 23: David Sedaris. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $48-$68. Visit alysstephenscenter.org. Oct. 25: Alabama Symphony Orchestra concertmaster & Friends Series: The Five Senses a Tango celebration with Raul Jaurena. 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. $32. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Oct. 27-29: Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus Live! Forum Theatre, BJCC. 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. Saturday. $52. Visit marsvenuslive.com. Oct. 29: 75th Annual Magic City Classic. Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M. 2:30 p.m. Visit magiccityclassic.com.

Village Living

SECTION

C OCTOBER 2016

special section

home & garden October is the time to take on a project or two. Whether you are looking to redesign a room, revamp your garden or prepare your home for winter, we’ve got you covered. Browse through our fall home and garden guide for advice, tips and resources for every aspect of home improvement.

INDEX Gardner Landscaping ....................................... C1 DSLD Land Management .................................. C2 Billy Brown Flooring ........................................ C3 Urban Home Market ........................................ C4 Budget Blinds .................................................. C6 Construx ......................................................... C7 EZ Roof and EZ Restoration............................. C8 Hiltz-Lauber Fine Flooring and Furnishings ...... C9

Sentry Heating and Air ...................................C10 Architectural Hardware Supply .......................C11 Brandino Brass ................................................C11 Classic Gardens .............................................. C12 Sew Sheri Designs .......................................... C12 Hanna Antiques .............................................. C13 NeedCo Inc ..................................................... C13 One Man and a Toolbox................................... C14 Village Poodle ................................................ C14 Bedzzz Express .............................................. C15

GARDNER LANDSCAPING

Landscaping with attention to detail Grant Gardner grew up with a love for landscaping, which has allowed him to find a career that he is passionate about. He has worked in the landscaping business for 15 years, which led him to open Gardner Landscaping in 2007. The company prides itself on quickly responding to your needs with high quality work. Furthermore, in order to ensure customer satisfaction, each job is done to the owner’s specifications. “I am a very visual person, and I visualize what it will take to make a landscape that the customer will be proud of,” Gardner said. Gardner Landscaping offers full service landscaping, installation and design, irrigation, outdoor living areas, landscape lighting, patios and walkways, decks, gazebos, lawn maintenance, flowers, trees, lawn aeration, landscape cleanup, drainage systems and weed

control. Gardner Landscaping is a one-stop shop for all of your lawn care and landscaping needs. They also have a garden center, Gardner Nurseries, which is conveniently located by the Riverchase Galleria. Gardner Nurseries stocks a wide variety of plants, ﬂowers, trees, stone and hardscape materials. “We are able to provide the detail to what we do that makes our customers happy,” Gardner said. “We are able to complete projects within a short period of time and are responsive to our customers’ needs.” Gardner Landscaping works with all types of budgets and strives to provide customers with landscaping they will take pride in and that will increase property value. For more information, call 823-3168 or visit GardnerLandscapingLLC.com.

special section

C2 • October 2016

home & garden

Village Living

DSLD LAND MANAGEMENT

Design your dream landscape DSLD Land Management is a full-service design/build landscape contractor ﬁrm. We are a family owned and operated company that strives to meet and exceed the expectations of our clients. During our initial consultation, all on-site factors are considered from function to form, with special emphasis given to economy and value added work. DSLD Land Management, Inc. opened its doors in 1983. Today, DSLD has built an excellent reputation in landscape construction as a prominent design/build company that services central Alabama. Over the past 30 years, DSLD has been recognized and featured multiple times in publications such as Southern Living Magazine and Builder’s Architect Magazine. DSLD welcomes projects of any scope and size, and stands ready to serve our clients with a full staff of licensed and degreed designers, a full-time administrative assistant and one of the most experienced ﬁeld service teams in the business.

DAVID H. SHARP

Pursing his lifelong interest in horticulture and business, coupled with a background in drainage and soil erosion, David Sharp was inspired to create the ideal landscape construction company specializing in residential design and installation. This inspiration is now DSLD Land Management, a full service design/build landscape contractor ﬁrm founded in 1983. David studied Geotechnical Engineering at the Ohio State University. While a student at OSU David was offered and accepted a scholarship to Samford University in Birmingham,

emphasis in Landscape Design. While obtaining her degree from Auburn University, Megan was able to develop a strong foundation in landscape design. She has advanced training and specializes in software such as Dynascape and ProLandscape. Megan looks forward to continuing her career with DSLD Land Management and creating spaces that reﬂect the lifestyle, purpose and attitude of our projects as well as injecting it with her personal ﬂair.

RYAN H. LANSFORD

Alabama, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Soon after graduating, David became interested in applying his background in Geotechnical Engineering and Business Administration to a new course of study in Ornamental Horticulture. In addition to learning from the environment around him, David has developed a more thorough understanding of various cultural landscape design applications from his travels throughout Europe and Asia visiting gardens and landscapes in over 20 countries.David ﬁrmly believes in the value of family. Not only does he enjoy his family, but also works to improve the lives of families with at risk children. David sits on several national board of directors where he volunteers on behalf of foster and adopted children across the country.

J. COLE SHARP

Growing up alongside his father, Cole Sharp

learned the family business from the ground up. Cole attended Jefferson State Community College where he studied Computer Information Systems Technology and Mathematics. In addition to his major courses, he took Horticulture courses to enhance his knowledge of the family business. Today Cole is fully engaged in the day-today operations of DSLD; from sales to installation as well as providing technical support.

MEGAN A. MCNAIR

Megan McNair is a Landscape Designer. She is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Landscape Horticulture with an

Ryan Lansford

Ryan H. Lansford is the project manager for DSLD. He is a 2006 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Building Services. Ryan brings years of strong work ethic, skills and experience to ensure all projects are completed professionally, successfully and meet or exceed customers’ expectations. Ryan is excited to be part of the DSLD team and appreciates how everyone works toward a common goal. He especially enjoys working with their landscape designers and is happy to work at one of the leaders in the Birmingham Design Build Landscape community. For more information, call 437-1012 or visit dsldlandmgmt.com.

VillageLivingOnline.com

special section

home & garden

October 2016 • C3

BILLY BROWN FLOORING

Top selections with local expertise Billy Brown has been in the carpet and rug business within the Mountain Brook community for 40 years. In 2012, along with his two sons, he opened a store in Irondale, Alabama, that consists mainly of selling and fabricating custom cut and bound area rugs. Their business caters to the area’s leading designers, decorators and architects, so their showroom naturally consists of the industry’s top leading wools, sisal, nylon and blends. Decorators and designers will find a fully stocked showroom with samples available for showing clients. Billy Brown Flooring also provides field measures helping to take the guesswork out and assuring product placement. Many of their wool area rugs are hand-loomed with hand-finished serge edging. Many of their rugs are ordered in broadloom bolts and then shipped in and customized to specific size and finished edges in their workroom. Whether it’s an intricate stairwell, or turns and angles at fireplaces and hallways, their team will gladly assist. There are many styles, colors and textures to choose from and a knowledgeable and friendly staff to help. For more information, call 205266-3714 or visit billybrownflooring. com.

C4 â&#x20AC;˘ October 2016

special section

home & garden

Village Living

special section

VillageLivingOnline.com

October 2016 • C5

home & garden

URBAN HOME MARKET

Urban Home Market: Where style, design, passion collide

he Birmingham retailer is well known for the vibrant, 17,000 square foot emporium of a fresh mix of goods from home furnishings, lighting, architectural pieces, gifts and home design services. At Urban Home Market we not only know our customers, we embody them. Every season, the space is ﬁlled with the latest assortment of unique design products intended to make UHM more than just a furniture store — it is a lifestyle store. Our merchandise is always changing and we sell items right off the ﬂoor if desired. We want to immerse our customers in a complete experience appealing to all of the senses. Our aesthetic is authentic and approachable. While Urban Home Market is often mistaken as an upscale retail chain, we are a family-owned business that was spun out of a home and family grown passion. Therefore, we offer personalized service

“

”

Our customers are our friends, and what we do is never, ever about selling to them.

and products that big corporations and big box retailers cannot. There is no national sales plan provided by a corporate ofﬁce in another state; it is simply Kathy McMahon and her vision. Being local allows us to focus on the “family community” and serve each customer as a friend and neighbor. These friendships tie creativity and design with authenticity because of our knowledge of our customers. “Our customers are our friends, and what we do is never, ever about selling to them,” McMahon said. Urban Home Market’s core philosophy is guided by style, design and the passion

KATHY MCMAHON

to inspire imagination throughout our store. We have a dynamic, energetic team of designers and visual merchandisers that are responsible for every aspect of the store’s look and feel. “Storytelling” is a key focus for our showroom. Each vignette serves as a series of different inspirations created to be inviting and stimulating. Our merchandising does not highlight product so much as set a mood and create a starting point to direct the customer on their own path. Every season, our team of buyers travel across the country to attend major national

furniture and accessory markets to ﬁnd the latest product and design trends. This combined with our interests and the needs of our local customers determines our inventory. Our merchandising mix is very dynamic, layered and dense. We have many humble, recycled and natural materials. Many of the store’s most striking visual effects have been crafted out of mundane materials. This adds a rich layer of artistry and visual wit to the store experience. This fall, we combine classic elegance with a sense of easy going urban sophistication through the use of soft and mixed textures and warmer tones to give an earthier feel. To learn more about the coming trends for 2017 please be sure to connect to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Our social media shows how to take trends and make them unique through our product shots and style tips for customers on the go. For more information, call 205-9804663 or visit urbanhomemarket.com.

C6 • October 2016

special section

home & garden

Village Living

BUDGET BLINDS

Ready to bring the showroom to you At Budget Blinds, Steve Thackerson says he does have a storefront, but there’s really no need to come there. If you need custom window coverings, he’s ready to bring his showroom to you, with all its fabrics, materials, colors and options. “We come to your home free of charge, bring samples and custom measure each window,” he said. “And anything you purchase from us, we come back and install.” It’s a service experience and quality product that’s made Budget Blinds one of the largest retailers of custom window coverings in the world — and made Thackerson’s franchise one of its top-producing stores. Different rooms have different needs, he said, and “we want to make sure we’re selling customers a window treatment that will meet the need for that particular room.” He encourages homeowners to think through the unique needs that each room in their house might have. That can mean window coverings that are insulating, child friendly, pet friendly, light ﬁltering or meant to black out the sun. That can mean colors and designs to change the lighting or mood of a room. And it can mean blinds, drapes, shutters or shades. “You can buy something off the shelf, and the price may be better, but it’s a totally different quality product. If you’re building a house or trying to improve a house, you want to make sure you’re getting a quality product,” Thackerson said. With Budget Blinds, the quality is not only obvious, it’s also guaranteed, he said. “There are a lot of companies out there, and our warranties are better than our competitors,” Thackerson said. “We have vendors that — due to our large volume nationwide — our corporate ofﬁce has negotiated warranties that none of our competitors get.”

Thackerson family.

And customers can rest assured that Budget Blinds will be around to see those promises through. “I’ve had the franchise for 22 years and been in the business for 30 years, so you can count on us sticking around,” he said. “My sales force, not including me, has over 40 years of experience without me.” Add Thackerson in, and it’s over 70.

“We’ve been around a long time,” he said, “so the customer can buy knowing we’ll still be around if there’s a problem.” It’s that kind of experience that makes Budget Blinds an easy choice. The company’s products have been seen on “Buying & Selling” with the Property Brothers, “This Old House,” “Designing Spaces” Military Makeover and more. In addition to custom window coverings,

Budget Blinds also offers bedding and pillows — all custom, too. For more information or to set up a time for an in-home consultation, call 205-824-3300 or visitbudgetblinds.com/Birmingham. If you’d like to drop in, the storefront is located at 2130 Columbiana Road. Thackerson says he’s looking forward to hearing from you.

VillageLivingOnline.com

special section

home & garden

October 2016 • C7

CONSTRUX

Professionals make remodeling a breeze Are you thinking about building or remodeling your home? Take the next step and call the experts at Construx to assist you. Whether you have a speciﬁc vision for your home or just a couple of vague ideas, Construx can make it happen. “Many people are choosing to remodel their current home at this time when the economic situation is working in their favor,” said owner and partner Kent Irwin. “And by doing it now, you can immediately enjoy those upgrades while adding value to your home.”

BATHROOM TRENDS

► Get rid of the tub/shower combo and replace it with a separate walk-in shower. ► Add timeless glass shower walls. ► Add features to allow you to age in place, such as hand-held showers, seats and grab bars. ► Install big plank tiles for ﬂoors and walls.

KITCHEN TRENDS

► Create an open floor plan — opening your kitchen to an adjoining room creates a dramatic effect and a great update. ► Install hardwood flooring to flow with the rest of the house and feel warm and inviting. ► Create a kitchen island to make a good break between the kitchen and living space. Consider making it look like furniture. ► Install quartz countertops.

OUTDOOR TRENDS

► Increase curb appeal and make a good ﬁrst impression by updating front doors and entryways. ► Install new windows to add energy efﬁciency and comfort. ► Build a wood deck or screened-in porch for extra outdoor living space. Call Construx at 533-2668 for an appointment and free estimate or for more information. You can also visit us at construxhome.com.

special section

C8 • October 2016

home & garden

Village Living

EZ ROOF

Nominate a deserving family for a free roof You have come to know EZ Roof as your neighborhood roofing company, your friend in the roofing industry, who is going to treat you like family and act with integrity. We pride ourselves on our reputation, and our local roots. As a family-owned business with deep community ties, we know just how important it is to support our friends and neighbors. And we know that by helping those that need a hand, we will only make our community stronger. While we’ve been doing that on a small scale, we want to do something bigger. If there is one thing we’ve learned over the years, it is that everyone needs a roof, but not everyone can afford the unexpected expense it brings. We want to fix that, one roof at a time. We are launching a new tradition at EZ Roof: The EZ Roof Giveaway, in which we will donate a free roof replacement to a deserving family in our community. It is with great passion that we begin this new endeavor, and we could not have done it without your support! We invite you to nominate a family in need (or even yourself) for this unique opportunity. Visit our website, ez-roofer.com, and submit your nomination — including name, a brief explanation of why you think your nomination deserves a new roof, and a photo of the roof if available. You may also mail in nominations to our office at 2677-B Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35244. Please make sure we have any necessary information to contact you or your nomination. The submission deadline is Dec. 1, 2016, and the winner will be selected Dec. 5. EZ Roof staff will select the winner in-house, but reserves the right to use social media such as Facebook as a means of narrowing down final selections or for choosing a winner from in-house selections. For official rules, visit ez-roofer.com. For more information about our services, call 205968-1034 or visit our website ez-roofer.com.

EZ Roof

Giveaway Free Estimates • Financing Available

Visit our showroom at the corner of Caldwell Mill and Valleydale Road 205.968.1034 | www.ez-roofer.com |info@ez-roofer.com

VillageLivingOnline.com

special section

home & garden

October 2016 • C9

HILTZ-LAUBER FINE FLOORING AND FURNISHINGS

Celebrating 25 years of furnishing homes This year, Hiltz-Lauber Fine Flooring and Furnishings celebrates its 25th anniversary. Locally owned and operated by its founder Joe Lauber, the shop opened in 1991 with a focus on flooring products and installation services. It has since expanded to include a fine furnishings showroom as well as a warehouse location in nearby Forest Park. Over the years, Hiltz-Lauber has proven to be a cornerstone of the Homewood community alongside other long-term tenants like Homewood Toy and Hobby and Cahaba Cycles. Renowned for their customer service and high quality products, Hiltz-Lauber believes in timeless style and quality. “We offer our customers quality service before, during and after the sale, and we offer a unique and wide selection of home furnishings and flooring at many different price points,” says Joe Lauber. The business offers full-service flooring, including carpeting, area rugs, hardwood floors, Alabama’s largest selection of natural fiber rugs and a wide range of nylons and synthetics. The furniture showroom includes upholstery and a mix of antique to transitional furniture as well as smaller gift items and artwork. “We work on projects for clients, including flooring and furniture installations from Cashiers, North Carolina, to Naples, Florida, and everywhere in between,” Joe says. “We also have quarterly warehouse sales to provide high-end products at reduced prices.”

After working in the legal ﬁeld for several years after college, Joe decided he wanted to do something more creative. His staff includes two CIDA-accredited design school graduates with their NCIDQ licenses. He is also accompanied by his brother, Nick Lauber, who manages the furniture end of the business. Joe has worked with some of the Southeast’s most notable designers and architects. Joe’s biggest piece of advice for homeowners:

“Do one room at a time so that you see real results without getting overwhelmed,” Joe says, also suggests utilizing the staff at Hiltz-Lauber or enlisting the help of other designers or decorators to help achieve a cohesive design plan and to navigate the process of purchasing, assembly and installation. “One mistake can cost thousands … So many people order off the internet only to be disappointed because the scale or product is not what

they anticipated.” This highlights the positive trend of people shopping at and supporting local businesses like Hiltz-Lauber. “People are coming back to brick-and-mortar businesses where you can get good ol’ fashion customer service and the salespeople know who you are,” Joe said. That is exactly what brings people back to the shop again and again. Although many client projects are residential, Hiltz-Lauber also does commercial and institutional work. Most recently, they played an integral role in the renovation of the Cathedral Chapel at Saint Paul’s Catholic Church in downtown Birmingham. “We were able to reclaim Italian marble altar pieces that we found in the basement of the church from the original altar and repurposed them in the newly renovated chapel,” Joe said. “It’s truly a pleasure to give back to such a historical building.” It serves as just one of the many accomplishments in the business’ 25 successful years. The friendly and knowledgeable staff members at Hiltz-Lauber look forward to the future as they continue to provide quality products and service while further focusing on sustainability in their own operations and with the vendors they support. For more information, call 205-879-3455 or visit hiltzlauber.com, or visit the showroom located at 2838 18th St. S., Homewood, AL 35209.

special section

C10 • October 2016

home & garden

Village Living

SENTRY HEATING AND COOLING

On guard for your comfort! Charlie Conklin is going to retire. Someday. But probably not any time soon. “He says he’s retiring eventually, but you know how that goes,” said his daughter, Lauren Conklin, laughing. For now, Charles enjoys the time he spends working with Lauren at Sentry Heating and Cooling, the business he started nearly 30 years ago with the intention of providing quality, 24/7 heat and air conditioning services. Lauren enrolled in business school, but, like many students, struggled with deciding what she wanted to do after graduating. “I’d had an interest in working for my dad, but I thought, well, I don’t know anything about the industry, so what value will I add to it?” Lauren said. “Then I started realizing that he’s going to need somebody young and fresh in the ofﬁce giving new ideas, technology-wise.” The father-daughter team, as well as Michael Tortomase, who joined the company in 2003 and added a plumbing division, form the foundation of the company. “We are local and we are family-owned and operated; that makes us different,” Lauren said. Sentry Heating and Cooling provides heat, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical services as well as service agreement contracts. “I compare it [getting agreement contracts] to getting your oil changed on a car.” Lauren said. “If you’re going to spend that much money on your home or on your unit or other things in your house, you want to make sure they’re working properly.” In October, as the temperature starts to drop, she recommends that people get furnace tuneups. “It’s right before everything gets cold,” she said. “We’ll check everything out and it will prepare you for that cold weather that’s about to hit. Alabama has crazy weather and it could

be warm for a while longer, but once that cold weather hits, especially if the furnace has been off for the majority of the year, things can happen.” The company is ﬁrmly planted in the community, supporting local sports teams, animal rescues and other charities, as well as offering internships. “We like to give back, especially to the schools and children,” Lauren said. “We

know that those kids are the future generation of workers who can come to work for us… And internships are a great thing for the community because we are eventually going to have those guys working for people in the community.” Serving the community at large and individual clients well, after all, is the company’s highest priority. “We treat our customers like we would our

family,” Lauren said. “We understand when everyone’s hot that they’re grumpy and they’re upset that something’s not working…They’re not just another customer writing a check to us. We really and truly do care.” Sentry Heating and Cooling is located at 2490 Rocky Ridge Road in Vestavia Hills. For more information or to schedule service, call 979-9864 or visit sentryheating.com.

VillageLivingOnline.com

special section

home & garden

ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE SUPPLY

October 2016 • C11

CLASSIC GARDENS & LANDSCAPE

Where love of gardening runs deep

Jeff Seabolt: The Hardware Man Inside of the architectural heritage building on the corner of Second Avenue South and 28th Street sits a man and a showroom full of beautiful decorative hardware. If you are building or remodeling your home, it would be advantageous to stop by and explore all of the options available for your project. Jeff Seabolt has committed his whole working adult life to the industry, and for more than 29 years, he has supplied some of the largest homes built in the Greater Birmingham area. Give Jeff a call to set up a time to go over your plans and together come up with a comprehensive schedule of hardware for all involved. As Jeff will tell you, make the plan and then work the plan. For more information on Architectural Hardware Supply, visit ahardwareman.com or call 910-4893.

Every Saturday morning from 8-9 a.m., owner Mike Pender, Chris Keith, and/or Chris Joyner answer horticultural questions from Birmingham residents calling into their live radio show on WERC 105.5. The owner of Classic Gardens draws on vast knowledge and years of experience. “I was born gardening,” Pender said. “Other kids would be playing baseball and football, and I would be planting ﬂowers.” In 1990, he and his wife, Ann, started Classic Gardens & Landscape Inc. in Birmingham. As the garden center grew, they added landscaping and fertilization/weed control of lawns. Ann was pregnant with their fourth child and Mike was working full time when he decided to go back to school. For two years, he took night classes at Jefferson State Community College and received his horticulture degree, an investment that seems to have paid off. “People are always impressed with the

depth of our knowledge,” he said. With fall approaching, Mike recommends that Birmingham residents winterize their lawns with Fertilome Winterizer, a fertilizer produced in Dallas. The danger of purchasing generic fertilizer is that it is often produced further north and is meant for a different type of grass. “Fertilome Winterizer feeds the root system, stores carbs and helps grasses green early in the spring,” he said. Classic Gardens’ many gardening products and services include landscaping, irrigation, hardscaping and fertilization/weed control of lawns and a garden center. “There’s a saying that goes, ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,’” Mike said. “I got into this business because it’s what I love to do.” Classic Gardens is located at 1855 Carson Road. For more information, call 205-854-4005 or visit classicgardens.com.

C12 • October 2016

special section

home & garden

BRANDINO BRASS

Village Living

SEW SHERI DESIGNS

Brandino Brass recommends gas fireballs for cool nights The mercury in thermometers is slowly dropping. Soon, leaves will be turning golden and red and people will want to make hot chocolate and curl in front of a fireplace. If you are ready to change or update your existing fireplace, Brandino Brass can help you install a functional and stylish gas fireball for your fireplace. Brandino sells traditional fireplace logs and recently teamed up with Rasmussen Gas Logs and Grills, a family-owned company headquartered in California, to offer gas fireballs to warm up those upcoming cold nights. Laurie Fulkerson, a designer with Twin Interiors, said she frequently recommends gas fireballs over log fireplaces. “It has a different look than a traditional log,” she said. “It’s sleeker. They just have a great look about them.” She said that the gas fireballs have a “modern” look that complement any type of house, whether it is traditional, transitional or modern. Gas fireballs come in both dark and light colors. Personally, Fulkerson prefers the darker shade because the lighter options eventually get char marks. “The colors are neutral and easy to work

Season of change at Sew Sheri

with,” she said. “I love them.” Brandino Brass is a hardware store offering selections of items such as cabinetry, doors, hardware, light ﬁxtures and specialty items. For more information, stop by their store at 2824 Central Ave. in Homewood, call 9788900 or visit brandinobrass.com.

Sew Sheri Designs specializes in custom fabrics, interior designs, window fashions and more. In business since 1991, Sheri Corey has a lifelong passion for sewing and design. Her business philosophy is simple: create value by giving my customers the highest quality service and work. However, Corey recently decided to make a change with her business. “After six wonderful years in our Mountain Brook Village storefront, we are transitioning from fabric store and workroom, to workroom only this fall,” she said. Corey and her team will continue to assist both designers and individual clients with their custom design projects and will be available for design consultations, workroom services

and ordering fabrics, trim and hardware in classic styles and the latest trends. Services offered include curtains, window treatments, bed linens, pillows and slip covers. Personal in-home consultations are available. Their professional experience allows them to see the best treatment for your windows and the right fabric to match the aesthetic you want to achieve. “It has been a privilege helping you with your home décor projects over the years, and we are excited to see what the future holds,” Corey said. “We are looking forward to assisting you with your custom home projects for years to come. For more information, call 205-879-8278 or visit sewsheri.com.

VillageLivingOnline.com

special section

home & garden

October 2016 • C13

NEEDCO

HANNA ANTIQUES

Find just what you’re looking for in our Southside mall Been looking for that one particular piece for your house? Bonny Hanna Picard is pretty sure she can help out with that. At Hanna Antiques, you can browse 27,000 square feet of jewelry, pottery, fine linens and furniture stocked by more than 100 dealers. It’s a very large store that is packed full, and we have 35 showcases to full of collectibles, sterling, military memorabilia, man stuff, art glass and jewelry. We have everything you might want, including beautiful rugs and chandeliers. Our furniture ranges from mid-century, European and English, to some painted and shabby-chic. “I had a cute young woman come in and purchase a mahogany chest on chest and couldn’t believe how reasonably priced it was,” Bonny said. “She and her husband had just moved into their first home and had been looking for this piece. “I love helping the younger generation shop here, knowing the value of antiques and the way they are made with dovetailed drawers and not stapled together.” When Picard started Hanna Antiques 37 years ago, she started it as a refinishing business with the love of beautiful wood; her business then evolved into the first antiques mall in Birmingham. “It has been the best career I could have ever asked for,” Bonny said. “I never get bored, as every day is new and different. I’ve grown up with my customers and love seeing their now-adult children come in to shop with

One-stop shop for custom cabinets

their small children.” She loves providing quality merchandise for the shoppers — and a little entertainment for their companions. “We have plenty of ﬁ ne books for the men to read and purchase while their wives shop; we’ve got something for everyone,” she said. Hanna Antiques is located at 2424 Seventh Ave. S., across from the new VA Outpatient Clinic next to Red Mountain Expressway, and is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 205-323-6036 or visit hannaantiques.com.

NeedCo owner David Harrison had been in the HVAC business for 25 years. He started woodworking as a hobby and decided to follow his passion by opening up NeedCo in 2000. The company, which specializes in remodeling, plumbing and the design and creation of exclusive high-quality cabinetry, would later expand to Tuscaloosa and Homewood. General Manager Chrissy Bushnell said, “The goal is to be a one-stop shop. We have talented designers on staff, and we focus on service plus customization.” Bushnell said that homeowners want to be more involved in their projects. “They want to be more hands-on; by that I mean they want to know more about the products, process and service,” she added. As for trends in cabinets, tile and countertops, Bushnell said, “Simple, streamlined and gray colors are in right now.” She also said today’s kitchen is more

high-tech, and things such as electrical chargers can be implemented into the cabinetry, making everything more user-friendly. NeedCo also employees technology in the showrooms to show customers 3-D designs and renderings. “We pride ourselves on our showrooms,” Bushnell said. “We want designers and customers to really be able to see how the product will turn out.” Her favorite part is watching the project come together. “Seeing the whole process, the before and after, is amazing,” she said. “The homeowners are overjoyed because they get to see their dream kitchen come to life. “Client satisfaction is vital to our business, and that was one of the reasons Mr. Harrison saw the need for a service-driven cabinet company, and ever since, this has remained NeedCo’s number one goal and priority.” For more information, call 871-2066 or visit needco.net.

C14 • October 2016

special section

ONE MAN & A TOOL BOX

THE VILLAGE POODLE/BEVERLY RUFF

Committed to quality home improvement for your home Since 1997, One Man & A Tool Box has been helping people with a variety of home improvement projects and repairs. “The company was started to ﬁll a void in the market to provide professional contracting services for jobs too small for a general contractor to do. In many cases, small handyman type projects are done by unskilled, unlicensed, uninsured people working out of their trucks going from job to job — many times not completing jobs as they go, or not standing behind jobs after they are complete,” said owner Jay Moss. One Man & A Tool Box is insured and bonded to further protect customers. “We offer carpentry, painting, minor plumbing, electrical, pressure washing, roof and gutter repair, appliance installation, drywall repair, door and window repair and more,” Moss said. Fall is the perfect time to take care of home maintenance issues. One Man & A Tool Box’s affordable hourly rates can ﬁt any budget. “We are a 19-year-old company,” Moss said. “We have invested in technology and skill enhancement of our technicians to ensure jobs are done timely and professionally.” Their technicians are skilled and professional. They pride themselves on getting the

Village Living

home & garden

job done well and on time. “We have multiple technicians, so if you think a job is too large for one man and a toolbox, you can have two men and more if the job requires it,” he said. They service not only Birmingham, but also Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Gadsden. For information, please call 205-823-2111 or visit onemanandatoolbox.com.

All about fashionable lifestyle Sister stores The Village Poodle and Beverly Ruff help offer a full picture of a fashionable lifestyle. The Village Poodle is celebrating its ﬁrst year of being open in Mountain Brook and offers distinctive clothing for every occasion as well as antiques and chandeliers, like sister store Beverly Ruff. Beverly Ruff, which is located across the street, carries loungewear, baby clothing, jewelry, antiques, frames and chandeliers. Available antique chandeliers offer a way to anchor a room, bringing in character and something that is guaranteed to catch a visitor’s eye. Beverly Ruff focuses on chandeliers that stand apart from the crowd. If someone enters a room with one of the chandeliers, owner Beverly Ruff said, they cannot help but look several times. Both The Village Poodle and Beverly Ruff are shops that focus on bringing the best style for you and your home. This fall, The Village Poodle is hosting a trunk show featuring clothing designer Abbey Glass and shoe designer Claire Flowers. Glass, who has been featured in Southern Living magazine, will have her fall/holiday line on display during the event, and Flowers will come down to the shop from St. Louis, Missouri. Flowers focuses on designing the perfect, comfortable pump that is good for any season and made to last, Ruff said. Beverly Ruff will also host a trunk show

for Made in the Deep South, a Vestavia-based jewelry line which focuses on one-of-a-kind pieces. Each piece is made from vintage and estate pieces collected from around the world. The trunk shows are set for Oct. 5 from 1 to 8 p.m., and wine and cheese will be served. For more information about The Village Poodle, call 205-423-5443 or visit their Facebook page. For more information about Beverly Ruff, call 205-871-7872 or visit their Facebook page.

special section

VillageLivingOnline.com

home & garden

October 2016 • C15

BEDZZZ EXPRESS

Choosing the right mattress can positively impact your life

ecause you’ll spend approximately one third of your life in your bed, insuring it’s comfortable should be a top priority at purchase. And you may be debating right now as to whether you need a new mattress, going through the struggle of, “Oh, it’s still okay,” and, “I’ll just ﬂip it again.” But if it’s often a topic of discussion in your home, chances are you know you need an upgrade. It’s an investment worth making because better sleep can positively impact you in many ways. With more than 20 years in the industry and loyal to our slogan, “Where Dreams Begin,” Bedzzz Express strives to successfully assist our customers in making the ideal mattress selection from the many brands and types we offer. Each team member is experienced and knowledgeable about identifying sleep habits and guiding families and individuals through selecting the perfect mattress for their lifestyle. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right mattress for you.

WHEN?

All mattresses should be replaced every 7-10 years. Other signs you need to replace your mattress are: ► Visible sagging, indentions or lumps ► Squeaking upon movement ► Waking up with aches and pains

We only offer quality top brands that offer great products. Buying a mattress is not only a necessary purchase but also an investment in your mental and physical health.

WHAT BRAND?

► You and your partner roll in toward the middle throughout the night

WHAT SIZE?

When shopping for a mattress, make sure to measure the area it’s going to go. Also take into consideration the size and number of people who will be needing the bed. Mattresses should be longer than the tallest person using it and wide enough to allow you to fold your arms behind your head without going off the mattress or touching your partner. The Bedzzz Express Mattress Size Guide will help determine which mattress is best for your speciﬁc needs.

WHAT COMFORT TYPE?

Our mattresses come in a variety of comfort types to ﬁt any preference. While some types are known to be better for back pain and sleeping positions, it ultimately comes down to your preference. Make sure to try out many different mattresses for 10-15 minutes before making a purchase.

WHAT LEVEL OF QUALITY?

One of the biggest factors affecting your sleep experience is the quality of your mattress. Higher quality mattresses last longer and will provide better overnight support for your back and neck.

At Bedzzz Express, we only offer quality mattresses from top brands. Our sleep experts are knowledgeable in our inventory and the different products available from different companies. We currently sell products by: ► I Comfort ► Tempur-pedic ► Beautyrest ► Serta ► Sealy ► Stearns & Foster ► King Koil Founded in Birmingham in 1995, Bedzzz Express now has 46 stores in four states and takes great pride in a top-brand inventory of best mattresses at the best prices. All premium mattresses come with a Triple Z Guarantee that includes a 90 day Simple Zzz’s guarantee, giving you the assurance that you will sleep soundly for 90 days or simply return it for a full store credit. Plus, the 90-day Lowest Price Promise means you got the very best price--if you ﬁnd your mattress cheaper within 90 days of purchase we will simply refund 115% of the difference. For more information, visit any Bedzzz Express location or bedzzzexpress.com.