What to expect this year in Mountain Brook
By SARAH OWENS
There are plenty of things to keep an eye out for in Mountain Brook in 2025. Here are our top five projects to watch in the new year.
ROUNDABOUTS
The city plans to build roundabouts near the Birmingham
Zoo at the intersection of the U.S. 280 ramps, Cahaba Road, Lane Park Road and Culver Road. The project includes two roundabouts adjacent to each
See LOOK AHEAD | page 20
US 280 expansion set to begin; officials hope expansion cuts down on cut-through traffic
By TAYLOR BRIGHT
U.S. 280 congestion may be getting a little worse in the next couple of years — and then, officials hope, a whole lot better.
The state is set to begin construction on the widening of 280 as soon as February, the Alabama Department of Transportation said. The project is expected to last two years.
The project is designed to add to the capacity for cars traveling along the western end of the highway, which runs through Homewood, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills.
According to data from ALDOT, the busiest point of 280, near Overton Road, has an average of nearly 105,000 vehicles traveling that point daily. By comparison, only the interstates are more traveled in the metro area. Interstate 20/59 by the Tallapoosa Street exit has more than 150,000 vehicles driving on it daily. Mountain Brooks officials hope the project will steer drivers to the new 280 instead of cutting through the city’s residential neighborhoods, where residents have complained about the additional traffic.
See 280 EXPANSION | page 22
Traffic on U.S. 280 comes to a stop below the Pump House Road bridge in November In 2025, an extra lane will be added on either side of the road from Lakeshore Drive to I-459. There are also proposals to add another lane onto the bridge. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
WE ARE INDUSTRY LEADERS IN
ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS
Christopher M. Beaumont, MD
E. Lyle Cain, Jr., MD
Andrew M. Cordover, MD
Jeffrey C. Davis, MD
Jeffrey R. Dugas, MD
Benton A. Emblom, MD
Christopher H. Garrett, MD
Daniel C. Kim, MD
Wayne McGough, Jr., MD
Kathleen E. McKeon, MD
K. David Moore, MD
Charles C. Pitts, Jr., MD
Marcus A. Rothermich, MD
Norman E. Waldrop, III, MD
BIRMINGHAM CULLMAN GARDENDALE
NON-SURGICAL
SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIANS
Matthew B. Beidleman, MD
Christopher S. Carter, MD
Emily Bell Casey, MD
Ricardo E. Colberg, MD
Rachel G. Henderson, MD
Monte M. Ketchum, DO
José O. Ortega, MD
T. Daniel Smith, MD
Jay S. Umarvadia, MD
INTERVENTIONAL SPINE
Charles T. Carnel, MD
HOOVER - HWY. 150 HOOVER - HWY.
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Editor’s Note By Sarah Owens
Happy New Year, Mountain Brook! I hope you all made it through the holiday season and are staying warm as we embrace the cooler temperatures. We have some great stories to kick off the new year, starting with a long-awaited update on the upcoming changes to U.S. 280 and a few other things to expect in 2025. Be on the lookout for continued sidewalk additions around town and the beginning of roundabout
construction. In the city section, read about the award recipients being honored at the Mountain Brook Chamber’s January luncheon. In school news, meet your teachers of the year. Also, read about a musically gifted MBHS grad in the community section. I want to thank all of our readers for stepping into the new year with us, and I can’t wait to see what Mountain Brook has in store for 2025!
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Graceful Aging wants to help you move with confidence
The American population is aging rapidly, meaning that more and more people are living longer. Many of these seniors are seeking ways to maintain their health and increase the quality of their lives.
One thing is certain — they must exercise regularly if they wish to age gracefully, keep their independence and maintain a great quality of life.
That’s where Graceful Aging in Mountain Brook comes in.
“Our slogan is ‘Age with grace. Move with confidence,’” says Sarah Brumfield, a Certified Fitness Trainer and the founder of Graceful Aging.
Graceful Aging offers top-quality, in-home training to seniors to help them improve strength, balance and flexibility, to reduce fall risk and to increase longevity.
Serving Mountain Brook, Vestavia, Homewood and Hoover, Graceful Aging provides seniors in with individualized fitness programs they can enjoy in their own homes with professional trainers.
One-on-one sessions with trainers "ensure proper techniques and reduce risk of injury, but also build relationships that improve social and mental well-being," Brumfield says. “Our programs are individualized based off each client’s health history, current functional status and personal goals.”
Following such a personalized program “is essential for living a happy and healthy life," Brumfield says.
Routine fitness can help improve mood and cognitive function and "reduce the onset or frequency of conditions associated with aging, such as heart disease, Type II diabetes and osteoporosis," she says.
Brumfield is a certified personal trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association, specializing in senior fitness training, and is a licensed physical therapist assistant. A Mississippi native, she became a
physical therapist in 2005 and began helping seniors to regain their independence following injuries, surgeries and illness.
After 15 years of working in the recovery setting, Brumfield shifted her focus and found her true passion – preventative wellness and fall prevention.
“In working with seniors, I learned quickly just how detrimental a single fall could be,” she says. “Even for the fortunate few that do not sustain physical injuries from the first fall, the fear of recurring falls will lead to
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Graceful Aging
• Call: 601-597-2442
• Web: gracefulagingbirmingham.com
increased risk of falling. The fear itself can steal the quality of life from the aging adult. With my knowledge and experience, I am confident I can reduce the risk of falls by teaching proper techniques and providing strength, flexibility and balance training.”
A resident of Mountain Brook, Brumfield moved to the Birmingham area with her family in 2019 and opened Graceful Aging in 2021.
Birmingham native Michele Smith is also a trainer with Graceful Aging. A certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Smith has specializations in functional movement training, overall wellness and endurance and strength training.
“Don’t wait until you have a decline in function or a fall to make health your priority," Brumfield says.
Many Baby Boomers in the Birmingham area are getting that message, Brumfield says.
“Baby Boomers seem to be more health conscious than previous generations,” she says. “They value lifelong learning and thrive to stay strong, both mentally and physically.”
Graceful Aging offers one-on-one 50-minute sessions, a monthly hybrid fitness training package, 25-minute add-ons for assisted stretching and mobility and home assessments. All equipment is provided.
For more information, call 601-597-2442 or go to gracefulagingbirmingham.com.
Sarah Brumfield, Certified Fitness Trainer and the founder of Graceful Aging
Chamber honors award recipients at luncheon
The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce will host its 2025 Annual Luncheon on Jan. 29, celebrating the city and honoring several members of the community with awards.
This year’s Jemison Visionary Award Winner is City Council President Virginia Smith. The O’Neal Library will present the William Tynes Award to Patsy Dreher, and the city will recognize Lindsy Gardner as Employee of the Year.
The Jemison Visionary Award recognizes a servant leader whose commitment and contributions to the community are unparalleled. “If you think about all the improvements and amenities added to the Mountain Brook community since 2000, then Virginia Carruthers Smith’s handprints are all over them,” said City Manager Sam Gaston. “Serving as the City Council liaison to the Parks and Recreation Board for 20 years, the sidewalk connections, parks and playing fields improvements, the total renovation of the Athletic Complex, the purchase and development of Cahaba River Walk Park are some of the fruits of her labor. She also has served as council liaison to the Board of Landscape Design [Tree Commission] and the trees added to our public areas, landscaping in our commercial villages and the city being recognized as a Tree City USA for 30 consecutive years are also due to her leadership and diligence. She has been a true advocate of planned growth in the city, working countless hours on the plans for Cahaba Village, Overton Village, The Shops at River Run and the Lane Parke developments.”
“No one has ever so willingly and graciously stepped forward to serve our city in so many ways over her 25-year tenure. Virginia’s thoroughness in analyzing issues and her firmness in her decisions as our preeminent city leader has been inspiring and a blessing to us all, especially me,” City Councilman Billy Pritchard said.
The William Tynes Award is an honor
bestowed upon an individual or group who is recognized for meaningful and devoted service to the city of Mountain Brook and especially O’Neal Library. The O’Neal Library Board and the Mountain Brook Library Foundation are pleased to announce that this prestigious award will be presented to Dreher.
“Patsy has been a dedicated library volunteer for many years. She worked on the capital campaign for the current building and served in leadership roles with the Friends of the Library, the O’Neal Library Board and the Mountain Brook Library Foundation. Patsy has been a wonderful resource to me as director, and I
smile every time she walks into my office,” said Library Director Lindsy Gardner.
Nominated by her peers, Gardner has been awarded the Mountain Brook City Employee of the Year Award for her outstanding performance and dedication.
“When I started working for O’Neal Library, I immediately noticed Lindsy’s level of professionalism, and her love and dedication to the profession,” said Library Office Manager Viridiana Herrera. “Lindsy encourages cooperation and strong relationships between the O’Neal Library staff and other city departments, businesses and organizations in Mountain Brook.”
“Upon being hired by the O’Neal Library, Lindsy hit the ground running and embraced her role as director and quickly grasped the important role that the O’Neal Library plays in the Community,” City Councilman Lloyd Shelton said. “Lindsy epitomizes the term ‘servant leader.’ Her focus on how the O’Neal Library can best serve the community is evident in the attitude and dedication of the entire library staff. Through her leadership and example, Lindsy encourages the library staff to strive for excellence in all that they do.”
– Submitted by Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.
Left: City Council President Virginia Smith received the 2025 Jemison Visionary Award from the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. Right: Lindsy Gardner, the director of O’Neal Library, was chosen as Mountain Brook’s Employee of the Year. Photo by Staff.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Clients enjoy personalized, one-on-one training at Total Fitness Consultants
At Total Fitness Consultants, with locations in Crestline and Mountain Brook Village, founder David Thomas and his highly skilled trainers offer clients personalized, one-on-one workouts in an inspiring, highly motivating atmosphere.
Thomas and his trainers customize programs for clients of all types, ages and ability, including busy professionals, seniors, people who are exercising seriously for the first time in years and athletes who are seeking to rehab an injury or improve their performance.
“Each person is unique and it’s our goal to design a program to fit the lifestyle, needs and goals of each client,” says Thomas, an industry veteran for 25 years and a certified CSCS, or strength and conditioning specialist.
Thomas is a firm believer in the advantages of one-on-one training over the group classes you find at the typical health club. At TFC, each client works out regularly with the same trainer, which provides a unique opportunity to build a productive relationship.
“You develop a rapport one on one with your trainer by consistently seeing that person time after time,” Thomas says. “They know their health needs and your goals and how to motivate you.”
Clients also make specific, scheduled appointments with their trainers, which gives clients a greater sense of responsibility in sticking to their program.
“You’re meeting one person as
opposed to a group class,” Thomas says. “It keeps you on track and builds accountability.”
In addition, the use of scheduled appointments means that the private TFC facilities are never crowded and clients always feel comfortable.
There are no group classes at TFC, but clients can choose from solo or partner workouts. The partner experience – whether it’s two moms, two friends or a son and a dad – gives clients the opportunity to work out together and split time with a trainer.
The 11 trainers at TFC are all true
professionals with deep knowledge and experience.
“Most of our trainers are former college athletes, and all of them become nationally recognized certified trainers, with college degrees in physical education, exercise physiology or related field,” Thomas says.
TFC also uses a wide range of equipment, including free weights, machines and bands.
“You are going to get a better workout by using a lot of different varieties and modalities,” Thomas said. “We use it all to make a complete program.”
Total Fitness Consultants
• Mountain Brook Village: 2833 Culver Road
• Crestline Village: 204 Country Club Park
• Call: 205-871-7744
• Web: totalfit.org
Total Fitness Consultants has operated in Mountain Brook for 24 years, and the community has provided a supportive environment for the business.
“It is such an amazing community that supports small and community-based business,” Thomas says.
“Total Fitness Consultants is small, intimate, and relationship-based, and that seems to work well in Mountain Brook,” Thomas says. “We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
And TFC remains focused on its mission.
“We take a lot of gratification having people tell us how much better they feel and look and how they enjoy exercise and how it helps them in daily life or in their sport,” Thomas says.
TFC is located at 204 Country Club Park in Crestline Village and 2833 Culver Road in Mountain Brook Village.
For more information, call 205-871-7744 or go to totalfit.org or Facebook @TotalFitnessConsultants.
Mountain Brook Schools announce Teachers of the Year
Mountain Brook Schools has announced its 2025–26 Teachers of the Year. Nominations for the annual award were submitted by students, faculty members and parents from each school and school community. Each of the six schools selected a teacher to represent the school.
The Teachers of the Year are as follows:
► Brookwood Forest Elementary: Amanda Potaczek, third grade
► Cherokee Bend Elementary: Barbara Parker, fifth grade
► Crestline Elementary: Lauren Anson, special education
► Mountain Brook Elementary: Bill Andrews, fifth grade
► Mountain Brook Junior High: Brittany Henegar, math
► Mountain Brook High School: Jane Ganey, theater
Each teacher submitted an application and
one elementary and one secondary nominee will be chosen to represent Mountain Brook as the district’s Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year. Upon being selected, they will enter into the state-wide competition for the title of 2025 (Elementary/Secondary) Teacher of the Year.
“To be recognized by colleagues, students and parents as a Teacher of the Year is a tremendous honor,” Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent Dicky Barlow said. “Each one of our six Teachers of the Year has unique qualities that set them apart in their buildings, and it is special for them to be honored in this way. After talking to each of them and hearing about their passion for teaching and learning, I'm inspired by our faculty and staff. I feel honored to work with such special people who make our schools a great place to work and learn.”
– Submitted by Mountain Brook Schools.
Prevent insects from making your home a place to live and dine this New Year by keeping your space clean & tidy.
Bugs love to hide in any crevice or near food sources. Eliminate open food containers, cluttered rooms, dirty dishes, & damp areas.
too
Bill Andrews
Amanda Potaczek
Barbara Parker
Brittany Henegar
Jane Ganey
Lauren Anson
- Carol Ann Hobby
“I
- Dr. Jimmie Harvey
Beth and Vic Nigri, Owners. The Fitness Center Trainers: Dan, John and David.
Business Buzz
BUSINESS HAPPENINGS
NOW OPEN
Polished on Church, a nail salon at 67 Church St. in Crestline Village, held a ribbon cutting in conjunction with the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce in December to celebrate its grand opening, just a few months after it began offering services. The salon focuses on providing a high-quality and personalized service, offering manicures and pedicures for adults and children. It also offers DAZZLE DRY, a long-lasting option. Polished on Church is open Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. 205-873-7347, instagram.com/polishedonchurch_
ANNIVERSARIES
The Morning Sickness Clinic, 2700 U.S. 280, Suite 240E, recently celebrated its two-year anniversary. They treat morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum and offer vitamin and electrolyte replacement for pregnant patients. 205-772-9595, morningsicknessclinic.com
Gunn Dermatology has been serving patients at its Lane Parke location, 391 Rele St., for two years. The clinic specializes in medical, surgical, laser and cosmetic dermatology. Services include facelifts, fillers, Botox, facials, laser hair removal, ear piercings and more. 205-415-7536, gunndermatology.com
homeRN, a concierge caregiving service located at 127 Oak St., is celebrating two years since the opening of its office in Crestline to provide services to Mountain Brook, Vestavia and Homewood. homeRN cares for clients in the comfort of their homes and offers a wide range of caregiver and nursing services, including help with daily living activities, sitting services and communication between physicians and family members. 205-644-2906, homeRNcare.com
Paige Albright Orientals, 2814 Petticoat Lane #2320, is celebrating its 27th year in business helping customers choose the perfect rug for their space. The business takes pride in sourcing the most unique and antique rugs from around the world. 205-877-3232, paigealbrightorientals.com
Slim’s Pizzeria, at 65 Church St. in Crestline Village, has been serving up pizza, salads, appetizers and ice cream, as well as beer, wine and cocktails, since 2022. 205-848-2706, slimspizzeria.com
Crestline Village Dentistry, 244 Country Club Park, is celebrating 17 years in business. The clinic provides general, family, cosmetic and emergency dental care for its patients. 205-870-5700, crestlinedentistry.com
Details, located at 2732 Cahaba Road, is celebrating its third anniversary in Mountain Brook. The home accessories boutique by Liz Hand Woods offers a carefully curated collection of items. 205-423-2993, detailsbylizwoods.com
CharBar No. 7, at 900 Jemison Lane, is celebrating eight years in Mountain Brook. The menu features a wide variety of options, including steaks, burgers, salads, seafood and more. 205-802-9050, charbar7.com
Bongiorno Italian Restaurant, located at 68 Church St. in Crestline Village, will celebrate 37 years in Mountain Brook this year. The family-run Italian restaurant was
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honored by the city in 2021 for its longtime business, receiving a key to the city as a token of recognition. The menu features classic Italian dishes, a selection of pizzas and more.
205-879-5947, bongiornoitalianrestaurant.com
The Lingerie Shoppe, housed at 2403 Montevallo Road, will celebrate 79 years of business this year. Brenda Meadows has been the owner since 1988. The shop offers bras and underwear, bridal options, body tape and nipple covers, footwear, robes, sleepwear and more. 205-871-8994, thelingerieshoppemtb.com
West Alabama Bank and Trust, located at 200 Office Park Drive, Suite 200, will be celebrating its fifth anniversary in Mountain Brook. 205-536-8268, wabt.com
Ashford Hill for Henhouse Antiques, located at 1900 Cahaba Road in English Village, is celebrating 27 years in business. Henhouse Antiques offers unique pieces personally selected by owners Barbara Ashford and Judy Hill. In recent years, their daughters, Laura Ashford Gessert and Libby Hill McGowan, have joined the business, adding a fresh, contemporary look. They mix English with French, 18th century with 21st century and primitive with formal. Also available is The Hill Collection, a hand-picked selection of antique and modern jewelry.
205-918-0505, henhouse-antiques.com
Le Weekend Studio, a high-end women's clothing store owned by Courtenay Bullock, is celebrating just over three years in English Village. Bullock said she grew up in the retail business because her father operated a clothing store, Harrison’s, in Mountain Brook Village. The store is at 1917 Cahaba Road. 205-767-6857, leweekendstudio.com
CLOSINGS
Watkin's Branch Bourbon and Brasserie, located at 2708 Culver Road, has closed.
Finding the joy and making skin glow
DR. HOLLY GUNN, GUNN DERMATOLOGY
A
t Gunn Dermatology, Dr. Holly Gunn and her dedicated staff offer full-body dermatological and cosmetic care, with any service or treatment a patient could possibly need, at two convenient locations in Mountain Brook.
They also treat their patients like family, and the patients think of Gunn Dermatology as their home away from home.
Gunn Dermatology offers a wide variety of services, including cosmetic and surgical procedures, head-to-toe skin exams and acne treatments. They provide basal cell and skin cancer removals through the safe, effective non-surgical techniques called IGSRT.
A full-service wellness center, Gunn Dermatology offers cryotherapy, infrared sauna sessions and spray tans.
Dr. Gunn opened her original location in Crestline Village in August 2020, which fulfilled her nearly lifelong dream of running her own practice. In November 2022, she opened the second location of Gunn Dermatology at Lane Parke in Mountain Brook Village.
At both facilities, Dr. Gunn and her staff provide what she calls great medical care in a luxurious environment.
“We treat you as a whole person with realistic, long-term goals to achieve your healthiest skin,” she says.
In addition, Dr. Gunn and her staff are always looking for new technologies that will help their patients.
“We always want to be up to date, and we want to educate ourselves on the best, most effective treatments out there,” Dr. Gunn says. ‘We’re constantly getting new devices and new procedures in the clinic.”
Gunn Dermatology “has everything,” she says. “There is no technology in aesthetic medicine that we can’t offer you.”
Those technologies include the Vivace Ultra device, which uses microneedling with radiofrequency to tighten, tone and contour any area of the body, Dr. Gunn says.
Dr. Gunn and her staff are also adept at using several new or recent technologies to give great treatments to the body.
“In the world of aesthetic medicine, we are moving to just treating the skin of the face but the skin of the body, and we’re getting better about noninvasive procedures for the skin of the
► WHERE: 32 Church St. in Crestline Village and 391 Rele St. in Lane Parke
► CALL: 205-415-7536
► WEBSITE: gunndermatology.com
body,” Dr. Gunn says.
Gunn Dermatology uses several technologies for the body, including the Vivace Ultra and the new EMSCULPT device.
“We offer lifting and tightening for various body areas,” she says. “We’ve seen great results with legs, arms, abs, and buttocks, as well as smoothing and contouring the skin.”
Gunn Dermatology is the first and only provider in Mountain Brook to get Ellacor, a non-surgical, micro-coring technology that treats wrinkles and removes 7% of skin with each treatment.
“We’re seeing increasingly impressive results with Ellacor as we continue to perfect the technique,” says Dr. Gunn. “With resurfacing and Ellacor every three years, you may never need a facelift.”
Among the newest devices at Gunn Dermatology is the Tetra PRO CO2 ablative laser, which Dr. Gunn and her staff use for skin resurfacing.
In resurfacing, dermatologists use lasers to remove the outer layer of the patient’s skin. After the skin heals, it looks firmer, tighter, smoother and 5-10 years younger.
The new Tetra PRO laser allows Dr. Gunn and her staff to do the procedure even more effectively.
“It allows us to do the procedure faster and more safely with less pain and a shorter healing time for the patient,” Dr. Gunn says. “It also allows us to get even better results.”
Gunn Dermatology is also expert in administering Botox and other injectables to patients.
“We have the technology to do injectables safely and efficiently and to properly deal with any possible side effects,” Dr. Gunn says.
She also cautions patients to look out for providers who offer cheap prices for injectables but are not trained or equipped to do the procedures the right way and get the best results.
Dr. Gunn also seeks to help change some of the outmoded
attitudes people express regarding cosmetic procedures.
“Society is changing regarding aesthetic medicine, but the concept of vanity still comes up,” she says. “But aesthetic dermatology is not about vanity. It’s not about looking better than the person next to you. It’s about looking good for yourself and maintaining your skin’s health. It’s about taking care of your face, which is your presentation to the world.”
Dr. Gunn says that most of us will spare no expense in maintaining the appearance of our houses or cars.
“People have no qualms immediately going to the body shop and fixing a ding or scratch on their car, but they don’t budget to take care of their face or their skin care,” she says.“If you are spending more on your car than your face, you should look at your priorities. You only get one face. You should see the value in it and maintain it.”
An accredited, board-certified dermatologist with almost 15 years of experience, Dr. Gunn attended medical school at The University of South Alabama and completed her dermatology training at Pennsylvania State University.
She worked in private practice for several years and formerly served as an assistant professor of dermatology and the director of the Dermatology Cosmetic and Laser Clinic at UAB.
Running her own practice has been very rewarding.
“It brings me so much joy when people come to me with a problem I know how to fix or improve,” Dr. Gunn says. “I’ve always been kind of a natural caregiver.
“I want to be a good example to my young daughters and to other girls that it is empowering to own your own business.,” she says. “I want to show them that when women are forced to have to take on responsibility, we have the ability to do it. We can take on expanded roles as females, and we can do it with finesse and gentleness and empathy.”
Women make great entrepreneurs and business owners, Dr. Gunn says.
“I think women bring a lot of caring into business,” she says. “There’s a huge difference between men and women in how they think about the world. Women bring a lot of love and support and caring as opposed to being so analytical. We are not about the bottom line at Gunn Dermatology. We are about bringing joy.”
Mountain Brook events guide
Jan. 12: Great Short Stories on Screen. 3-4:35 p.m. O’Neal Library. A 1968 adaptation of a John Cheever short story, “The Swimmer.” Well-off ad man Ned Merrill (Burt Lancaster) is visiting a friend when he notices the abundance of backyard pools that populate their upscale suburb. Ned suddenly decides that he'd like to travel the eight miles back to his own home by simply swimming across every pool in town. Soon, Ned's journey becomes harrowing; at each house, he is somehow confronted with a reminder of his romantic, domestic and economic failures, until a final visit with an old flame (Janice Rule) leaves him devastated. Chips, soda and water will be provided. Film begins promptly at 3 p.m. The library's Great Short Stories discussion group will be talking about Cheever’s short story on Monday, Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Holley at 205-445-1117 or hwesley@ oneallibrary.org.
Jan. 18: 9th annual MLK Day 5K Drum Run. 7-10:30 a.m. 1700 4th Ave. N., Birmingham. Hosted by The Leftover Energy Foundation, the MLK Day 5K Drum Run is a fun and active event to celebrate the MLK Day holiday weekend. Since its 2012 inception in Atlanta, the race has grown to over 2,000 runners/walkers and featured over 200 drummers from metro area schools and groups. The race features a 5K, a 10K and a 1-mile fun run/walk options for both youth and adults. Participants will enjoy live drumline performances from local schools along the course, enhancing the festive atmosphere. The event promotes inclusivity, welcoming individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Each participant receives a race goodie bag, including an official event shirt, and there are incentives for nonprofit and community groups to register as teams. Visit mlkday5kbham.com for more information or to register.
Official
Jan. 13: City Council meeting. 7 p.m. City Hall.
Jan. 29: Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Country Club of Birmingham. The event will feature a celebration of the City of Mountain Brook. This year the Chamber will honor the Jemison Visionary Award Winner, the O'Neal Library will present the Tynes Award,and the city will recognize its Employees of The Year. To register, visit business.mtnbrookchamber.org/events.
Community
Jan. 6: Reading Buddies. 3:30-4:30 p.m. O’Neal Library. Children are invited to practice reading aloud with a buddy. Buddies include Teen Advisory Board volunteers and trained dogs through Hand in Paw. This program aims to improve children’s literacy skills and lead them to enjoy reading through a welcoming environment for budding readers to practice reading aloud. Read-aloud proficiency can often lead to confidence in social interactions and public speaking. All these things build on each other to create a pathway to academic achievement. Teen and canine reading buddies are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Plan for a possible short wait.
Music
Jan. 3: The Beagle Company. 9 p.m. at Otey’s in Crestline.
Jan. 4: Alabama Getaway. 8 p.m. at Otey’s in Crestline.
Jan. 10: J.D. & The Man. 9 p.m. at Otey’s in Crestline.
Jan. 17: 8 Track Country. 9 p.m. at Otey’s in Crestline.
Jan. 24: T.U.B. 9 p.m. at Otey’s in Crestline.
Arts
Tuesdays and Thursdays: Origami Fidgets. 2-6 p.m. O’Neal Library. Drop by the Makerspace this month to make origami fidgets. Supplies for this craft will be provided at Open Maker Labs this month.
Jan. 6-12: Vision Boards. All day. O’Neal Library. Visit the second floor during the library’s open hours to create a vision board that aligns with the life that you want in 2025. Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring any images you may already have that you want to include on your board.
Recreation
Tuesdays: Gentle Yoga with Marie Blair. 10-11 a.m. O’Neal Library. Drop by the library on Tuesday mornings for a gentle yoga class. Marie has been teaching yoga at O’Neal Library for several years. Attendees are asked to bring a yoga mat and water. The class meets in the first floor community meeting room.
SPORTS
All-South Metro Volleyball
Beatty named Offensive Player of the Year
By KYLE PARMLEY
The 2024 high school volleyball season featured plenty of phenomenal individual and team seasons. With the quality of volleyball in the Birmingham area, simply being selected to the annual Starnes Media All-South Metro Team, in conjunction with Under the Lights, is an honor.
Chelsea senior Lauren Buchanan takes the overall Player of the Year award after capping off an illustrious career. After five years of trying, she helped her Hornets team get to the state tournament and to a final four finish for the first time in program history.
Mountain Brook’s Mae Mae Beatty is the Offensive Player of the Year after leading the way for the Spartans. Beatty has been a force on the outside for the last few years for Mountain Brook and really took on a leadership role for the team this year.
Hoover’s Sydney Durban is the Defensive Player of the Year after putting together one of the most productive campaigns imaginable for a libero. Durban’s defensive prowess was one of the reasons the Bucs advanced to the state final four for a second straight year.
► Player of the Year: Lauren Buchanan, Chelsea
► Offensive Player of the Year: Mae Mae Beatty, Mountain Brook
► Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Durban, Hoover
► Coach of the Year: Jamie Gill, Chelsea
1ST TEAM
► Outside hitter: Lauren Buchanan, Chelsea. Likely the best player in program history, Buchanan posted 764 kills and 346 assists for the season for the Texas Tech signee.
► Outside hitter: Mae Mae Beatty, Mountain Brook. The Montevallo signee posted 462 kills and 281 digs for the Spartans.
► Outside hitter: Millie Burgess, Vestavia Hills, surpassed 1,000 career kills as a junior, going for 566 kills and 313 digs on the year.
► Outside hitter: Layla Smith, Hoover, posted 510 kills and 181 digs.
► Setter: Cara Belcher, Chelsea, finished with the most career assists in program history, posting 1,357 assists in her senior year before heading to UVA-Wise.
► Setter: Mia Wilson, Briarwood. The lone senior on Chris Camper’s first team, posting 807 assists and 190 digs.
► Setter: Cailyn Kyes, Spain Park, set a school record with 895 assists to go along with 334 digs.
► Libero: Sydney Durban, Hoover, posted an eye-popping 870 digs in her senior season before heading to UAH.
► Libero: Ella Kate Wright, Mountain Brook, battled injury and still had 384 digs in a great season.
► Middle: Kennedy Vincent, Hewitt-Trussville. The senior had 227 kills and 113 blocks.
► Middle: Aubrie Lay, Oak Mountain, posted 189 kills in her final season before heading to Mississippi Christian University.
► Middle: Alexa Benda, Spain Park, capped her career with 279 kills and 112 blocks.
► Right side: Lila Willett, Chelsea. The Pearl River Community College commit had 222 kills for the year.
► Right side: Marion Haskell, John Carroll, posted 306 kills to lead the way for the Cavs.
► All-around: Jordan Madsen, Vestavia Hills. The two-sport athlete and versatile volleyball player had 325 kills and 123 digs.
► All-around: Olivia Guenster, Hoover, moved to the outside after beginning the season on defense and had 259 kills with 569 digs.
2ND TEAM
► Outside hitter: Bea Wiggins, Spain Park. The junior had a standout season, with 348 kills and 293 digs.
► Outside hitter: Alexis Rudolph, Chelsea. The sophomore had 377 kills.
► Outside hitter: Madelyn Bromley, Hewitt-Trussville. The Wallace State signee had 294 kills and 235 digs in a productive senior season.
► Outside hitter: Ellie Watts, Homewood, had a productive year with 206 kills and 208 digs for the Patriots.
► Setter: Grace Stewart, Mountain Brook. The senior racked up 847 assists and 214 digs in her first year as a starter.
► Setter: Madi Lopez, Hoover, had 596
assists and 280 digs as one of two setters.
► Setter: Addison Jenkins, Hoover, finished with 489 assists and 180 as one of two setters.
► Libero: Sophia Bagley, Chelsea. The junior stepped in and registered 375 digs.
► Libero: Camdyn Kyes, Spain Park. The eighth grader had 485 digs and 108 assists.
► Middle: Sydnie Broom, Hoover, posted 180 kills and 153 blocks.
► Middle: Ja’Niyah Mosley, Spain Park, posted 165 kills in a productive season.
► Middle: Cali Armstead, Homewood. The Berry College commit had 91 kills and 51 blocks for the year.
► Right side: Aliyah Pooler, Hoover, had 231 kills on the season.
► Right side: Betsy Smith, Oak Mountain, played multiple positions and finished with 375 assists and 190 digs.
► All-around: Caroline Whitehurst, Oak Mountain, put together a great season with 391
kills and 322 digs for the Eagles.
► All-around: Kate Gordon, Oak Mountain, finished with 437 assists, 203 digs and 104 aces in a productive all-around season.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
► Outside hitter: Mady Kirkpatrick, John Carroll; Reagan Gilbert, Spain Park; Julie Roberts, Briarwood.
► Setter: Kayleigh Nguyen, Hewitt-Trussville; Kam Coleman, Homewood; Isabella Marino, John Carroll.
► Libero: Christiana Callens, Hewitt-Trussville; Anaya Patel, Oak Mountain; Lillie Hill, Vestavia Hills; Amelia Browne, Hoover.
► Middle: Ally Ross, Oak Mountain; Ava Scott Windham, Vestavia Hills; Marley Cowan, Vestavia Hills; Clara Crawford, Briarwood.
► Right
side: Kayla Terrell, Hoover; Eden Rainbolt, Hoover; Mae Noerager, Homewood.
Left: Mountain Brook’s Ella Kate Wright (24) passes during a Class 6A North Super Regional match against Muscle Shoals in October at the Finley Center in Hoover. Right: Mountain Brook’s Grace Stewart (8) sets during a match against Spanish Fort in August at Spartan Arena. Photos by Kyle Parmley.
Mountain Brook’s Mae Mae Beatty (3) hits the ball during a Class 6A North Super Regional match against Muscle Shoals in October at the Finley Center in Hoover. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
SPORTS
All-South Metro Football
Stuart Andrews named Offensive
Player of the Year
By KYLE PARMLEY
The 2024 high school football season was one to remember. In the Under the Lights coverage area, eight of the 11 teams qualified for the playoffs, with Hoover making the deepest run, getting to the Class 7A semifinals.
The annual Starnes Media AllSouth Metro Football Team, in conjunction with Under the Lights, has been selected to honor the top performers from the season.
Spain Park junior quarterback Brock Bradley had an outstanding season to earn Player of the Year honors. Bradley led the Jags to 12 straight wins and an appearance in the Class 6A quarterfinals. He finished the year with 2,667 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, adding six rushing touchdowns as well.
Mountain Brook junior running back Stuart Andrews was named the Offensive Player of the Year after emerging as the Spartans’ workhorse. Andrews carried the ball 25 times per game and excelled in an important role in the Mountain Brook offense.
Hewitt-Trussville junior linebacker Parker Floyd is the Defensive Player of the Year after helping lead the Huskies to the best defense in Class 7A. The Huskies allowed just 9.5 points per game all season. Floyd totaled 105 tackles on the year and scored five offensive touchdowns as well.
Here is the team in its entirety:
► Player of the Year: Brock Bradley, Spain Park
► Offensive Player of the Year: Stuart Andrews, Mountain Brook
► Defensive Player of the Year: Parker Floyd, Hewitt-Trussville
► Coach of the Year: Chip English, Hoover
1ST TEAM OFFENSE
► QB: Brock Bradley, Spain Park; named Player of the Year after an outstanding season.
► QB: Will O’Dell, Oak Mountain; a breakout season for the dualthreat, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and rushing for more than 1,000 yards.
► RB: Stuart Andrews, Mountain Brook; named Offensive Player of the Year after running for 1,805 yards.
► RB: Chase Stracener, Chelsea; ran for 1,601 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
► WR: Corey Barber, Spain Park; the leading receiver in the area, going for 1,429 yards and 17 touchdowns on 74 catches.
► WR: Kylen Newell, Homewood; went over 1,000 receiving yards, scoring eight touchdowns.
► WR: Zach Fitzgerald, Oak Mountain; broke out in his senior season, catching 51 passes for 904 yards.
► TE: Bruce Littleton, Vestavia Hills; eclipsed 1,000 total yards as a do-it-all back for the Rebels.
► OL: Daniel Ellis, Mountain Brook; allowed no sacks and was selected for the Alabama/Mississippi
All-Star Classic.
► OL: Walker Williams, Homewood; allowed only one sack and led a potent Homewood offense up front.
► OL: Mason Holloway, Hewitt-Trussville; a two-year starter and the top lineman for the Huskies.
► OL: JD Livingston, Vestavia Hills; graded out at 91% on the year for a productive Rebels offense.
► OL: Trot English, Hoover; Alabama-Mississippi All-Star for the Bucs.
► ATH: Luke Reynolds, Briarwood; did everything for the Lions, scoring 16 touchdowns despite missing three games.
► ATH: Mac Beason, Hoover; threw for 2,315 yards and 19 touchdowns, while averaging 35 yards per punt.
► K: Whit Armistead, Homewood; made 9-of-11 field goals with a long of 42 yards.
► P: Owen Simpson, Vestavia Hills; averaged 45.5 yards per punt, along with converting all of his extra points.
► ST: Jackson Kalnoske, Chelsea; the senior had no bad snaps in three years as a starter.
1ST TEAM DEFENSE
► DL: Garrett Witherington, Briarwood; had 13 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback pressures as the focal point of the Lions’ defense.
► DL: Romello Cooper, Chelsea; racked up 56 tackles, 11 tackles for
loss and 7.5 sacks.
► DL: Colton McIntyre, ClayChalkville; one of the Cougars’ top players as a sophomore, finishing with eight sacks.
► DL: PaLanding Drammeh, Hoover; racked up 50 tackles with five sacks.
► LB: Grayson Bruno, Vestavia Hills; the leading tackler for the Rebels with 89 tackles.
► LB: Cameron Torbor, Hoover; racked up 89 tackles and eight sacks in a dominant season.
► LB: NaKarius Allen, ClayChalkville; went for 76 tackles and notched eight sacks.
► LB: De’Narrius Crawford, Hewitt-Trussville; posted 91 tackles and broke up five passes.
► DB: Spence Hanna, Vestavia Hills; top producer for the Rebels, finishing with 88 tackles.
► DB: Harris Crumpton, Mountain Brook; notched 90 tackles and broke up four passes.
► DB: Xavier Starks, ClayChalkville; the junior posted 70 tackles.
► DB: Will Phillips, Hewitt-Trussville; the top defensive back for the Huskies, registering 52 tackles along with returning punts.
► ATH: Parker Floyd, Hewitt-Trussville; won Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with 105 tackles.
► ATH: Michael Igbinoghene, Hewitt-Trussville; the Tulane signee
scored four offensive touchdowns, deflected three passes and made plays on special teams.
2ND TEAM OFFENSE
► QB: Will Myers, Homewood; despite missing two games, threw for 1,187 yards and totaled 19 touchdowns.
► QB: Aaron Frye, ClayChalkville; threw for 2,160 yards with 20 total touchdowns in his first year as starter.
► RB: Dakarai Shanks, Spain Park; ran for 1,292 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns.
► RB: Aaron Osley, ClayChalkville; one of four backs in the area to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards.
► WR: Aubrey Walker, John Carroll; played both ways for the Cavs, racking up 658 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
► WR: Dylan Cope, Hewitt-Trussville; led the Huskies with 503 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
► WR: CJ Durbin, Chelsea; a top target for the resurgent Hornets, catching 53 passes for 576 yards.
► TE: Jabari Staples, ClayChalkville; made the most of his 24 grabs, scoring eight touchdowns.
► OL: Bradley Haizlip, Oak Mountain; the junior led the Eagles’ offensive line in pancakes.
► OL: Rocco Gray, Mountain Brook; two-year starter and graded out at 94%.
Mountain Brook running back Stuart Andrews (10) earned Offensive Player of the Year honors after rushing for more than 1,800 yards in his first year as the full-time starter.
► OL: Toby Richard, Hoover; the 6-foot-3, 305-pound lineman helped lead the Bucs to the semifinals.
► OL: Landon Page, Vestavia Hills; the senior had 85 knockdowns on the season.
► OL: Anthony Mokry, John Carroll; the Cavs’ center was the team’s top lineman.
► ATH: Jonah Winston, Hoover: played several roles for the Bucs offense, scoring five rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns and playing some quarterback.
► ATH: Charlie Taaffe, Vestavia Hills; accounted for nearly 2,500 total yards in first year as starting quarterback.
► K: Josh Renfro, Oak Mountain; capped off his season with a 43-yard game-winning field goal against Chelsea.
► P: Drew Ollis, Hewitt-Trussville; averaged 39.8 yards per punt along with playing defensive line.
► ST: Hardy Butler, Homewood; the junior long snapper has been rated one of the top in his class.
2ND TEAM DEFENSE
► DL: Ethan Walton, Oak Mountain; totaled 58 tackles, including 16 for loss.
► DL: Boyd Cooper, Mountain Brook; finished with 47 tackles, three forced fumbles and 11 quarterback pressures.
► DL: Justyn Hartley, Hoover; had seven sacks to lead the Bucs
Photo by James Nicholas
Left: Mountain Brook DB Harris Crumpton (27) tackles a player during a game against Homewood at Spartan Stadium in September. Photo by Savannah Schmidt. Right: Mountain Brook offensive lineman Daniel Ellis (76) blocks a Pinson Valley defender at an October game at Mountain Brook High School. Photo by James Nicholas.
defense.
► DL: Patrick Smith, ClayChalkville; had six sacks for the Cougars.
► LB: Hampton King, Mountain Brook; had 66 tackles, including 10 for loss.
► LB: Briston Hardy, Chelsea; posted 128 total tackles on the year, with five pass breakups among several impressive stats.
► LB: Trust Darnell, Homewood; finished with 96 tackles, including 12 for loss.
► LB: EJ Kerley, Spain Park; posted 140 tackles, tops in the area.
► DB: CJ Tidmore, Homewood; posted 78 tackles from the secondary.
► DB: Deon Callins, ClayChalkville; had 60 tackles.
► DB: Sam Canale, Briarwood; emerged as a top player for the Lions, posting 58 tackles and three interceptions.
► DB: Joe Cross, Spain Park; intercepted five passes.
► ATH: Jamar Moultrie, Hoover; played defensive back and returned kicks for the Bucs.
► ATH: Rylan Hamm, Briarwood; the Lions’ leading tackler with 78 tackles on the year.
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
► RB: Marty Myricks, Oak Mountain; Evan Ausmer, Homewood; Deuce Alston, Hewitt-Trussville; James Kelly, Hewitt-Trussville; Joshua Woods, Clay-Chalkville; CJ
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Lindsay Floyd, D.V.M. Ross Scruggs, Ph.D.
SPORTS
Cowley, Spain Park.
► WR: Chris Warren, Hoover.
► TE: Jackson Martin, Hewitt-Trussville; Brayden Robertson, Briarwood.
► OL: Caleb Boylan, Vestavia Hills; Luke Kelly, Oak Mountain; Trot English, Hoover; Storm Fain, Hoover; Christian Bennett, Clay-Chalkville; JT Jones, ClayChalkville; Adam Brooks, Chelsea; Will Pohlmann, Chelsea; Barnabas Karanja, Briarwood; Hudson Reed, Spain Park; Jackson Bell, Spain Park; Carter Fountain, Briarwood.
► K: Garrett Heinemann, Briarwood; Joseph Del Toro, Clay-Chalkville.
► ATH: Kaleb Carson, Homewood; CJ Davis, Hewitt-Trussville.
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
► DL: Joey Lewis, Oak Mountain; Will Ray, Homewood; Tyson Bacon, Hoover; D’ante Seals, Hewitt-Trussville; Baasel Alabsi, Hewitt-Trussville; Randell Cole, Clay-Chalkville; Nic Gagliano, John Carroll.
► LB: Jacob Watson, Vestavia Hills; William Yoder, Oak Mountain; Colton Moore, Oak Mountain; Miller Lee, Mountain Brook; Joey Luckianow, Homewood; Isaiah Brown, Clay-Chalkville; Porter Schott, Chelsea; Ethan Prickett, Chelsea; Brayden Matherson, Spain Park; Owen Robinson, Hewitt-Trussville; Trey Sanders, Hoover.
► DB: Jayden Aparicio-Bailey, Oak Mountain; Kolby King, Oak Mountain; DK Bolden, Hoover; Maleik Smiley, Homewood; John Griffin, Homewood; Caden Ali, Hewitt-Trussville; Sam Parrish, Chelsea.
Starnes Media's publications cover several communities throughout the Birmingham metro area. Schools included for consideration on this team were Briarwood, Chelsea, Clay-Chalkville, Hewitt-Trussville, Homewood, Hoover, John Carroll, Mountain Brook, Oak Mountain, Spain Park and Vestavia Hills. The team was selected by Starnes Media’s sports department, in collaboration with the coaches.
Left: Mountain Brook center Rocco Gray (56) gets ready to snap the ball during a game against the Pell City Panthers in September at Spartan Stadium in Birmingham. Right: Mountain Brook linebacker Boyd Cooper (19) comes up with a fumble recovery. Photos by Richard Force.
COMMUNITY
MBHS grad wins UA 2024 Battle of the Bands
By STAFF
Mountain Brook High School graduate Nate Fulmer is a member of Elbow Joint, a band made up of University of Alabama students. The group won UA's 2024 Battle of the Bands competition in November.
The band, who describe themselves as a bluesy classic rock jam band, took home the grand prize of $2,000 during the final night of competition at Druid City Music Hall.
Fulmer graduated from MBHS in 2020 before making the move to Tuscaloosa, where his drumming skills became known among his fraternity brothers. He joined the band after Ira Cherniak, a member of his fraternity, asked him to play a gig.
THE BAND
The band originally started in 2023 with just Gil Armstrong (rhythm guitar), Cherniak (bass) and Richard Reynolds (lead guitar, lead vocals).
“We really didn’t think much about starting a band but were asked if we would play at a birthday party, to which we agreed, and booked our first ever gig," Armstrong said. "After that, we knew we needed to find a drummer. Ira and Nate were in the same fraternity and Ira knew Nate could drum, so we asked if he would play this one gig with us.”
Obviously, Fulmer stuck around, and the group found their final member soon after.
“Shortly after our first two gigs and an extremely busy weekend, we were booked for another philanthropy event by a guy named Grant Alderman, who was a piano player in another band,” Armstrong said. “I guess we played pretty well, and we ended up asking him to sit in on a gig we were playing to end the semester. It was a massive success and Grant officially joined the band the next day.”
Alderman plays the piano and is one of the lead vocalists for the band.
As for the name, the group can thank Cherniak’s father. The band sat down with Zoe Bernstein, a staff writer for The Crimson White, UA's student-run newspaper, in October to explain.
"My dad's in a band. He's been playing music since he was, like, 12," Cherniak said. "He heard about mine — well, we weren't even a band yet — and he told us, 'Y'all really need a band name,' and my dad just spam texted, like, 30 band names. I think I opened my phone and the first one I saw was 'Elbow Joint,' and I told the guys, and they said all right."
Cherniak’s father is also part of his inspiration for making music and performing.
"For me, it's definitely two things," he said. "It's the longest I can go without getting on my phone, I go like six hours playing music and not get on my phone. I also remember seeing my dad play growing up, and I remember telling him 'I want to do that.'"
For Fulmer, music is all about the
human connection.
“When you have awesome moments of music, it's the best thing,” he said, “because that music is bringing people together.”
THE COMPETITION
The group said this type of competition was an unmatched experience for them.
“Battle of the Bands was an amazing and unforgettable experience,” Reynolds said.
“Getting the opportunity to play in such a large musical venue and for such a great cause is truly something I will treasure forever.”
Cherniak agreed. “It was super cool getting to play using professional sound, lighting and production. I feel like because of the high-quality equipment, it is one of the best-sounding performances we have ever had.”
Elbow Joint wasn’t the only winner that night, as the event brought in approximately $6,090 for the Joe Espy need-based scholarship through pre-sale and tickets purchased at the door.
“This year’s Battle of the Bands was a huge success, not only in celebrating our students’ musical talents, but also in giving back to our
university community,” said Walker Parsons, the university SGA vice president for external affairs. “We are grateful for the strong turnout and the generous contributions of those who attended to make this a memorable night for all.”
Elbow Joint has played mostly in Tuscaloosa but also had a gig in Auburn in November.
“Twenty-plus gigs later and we are still rolling strong,” Armstrong said. “Our band goals as of now are to keep this thing rolling until we graduate and maybe pump out an original or two.”
Above: Elbow Joint performs at the University of Alabama’s 2024 Battle of the Bands competition on Nov. 14. Nate Fulmer is a member of the band and a graduate of MBHS.
Left: The members of Elbow Joint hold up a check for the prize money after winning Alabama’s 2024 Battle of the Bands competition. From left: Richard Reynolds, Nate Fulmer, Ira Cherniak, SGA Vice President of External Affairs Walker Parsons, Gil Armstrong and Grant Alderman. Photos courtesy of University of Alabama.
Helical Piers
LOOK AHEAD
CONTINUED from page 1
other: a smaller traffic circle that would connect U.S. 280 with Cahaba Road and Culver Road and would lead a transition into the second, larger circle, which would connect U.S. 280 with Cahaba Road and Lane Park Road, as well as the Lane Parke developments.
“The long-anticipated roundabout projects should start in early January and hopefully be done by maybe August, we hope,” said City Manager Sam Gaston. “That will certainly help the traffic situation there, when all those roads meet at one place, with the zoo traffic, the Botanical Gardens, Lane Park and Mountain Brook Village. So we're excited about that.”
Spire Energy started work in early November last year to relocate a pipeline at the intersection of Cahaba Road and Lane Park Road in preparation for the project.
The roundabout project is a joint effort between Mountain Brook, the city of Birmingham and the Alabama Department of Transportation. The three entities have agreed to share the cost of the project.
Much of the construction will be done at night to avoid daytime lane closures during the week, and the intersection will remain open to
traffic at all times.
Upon completion, this project will create a gateway into the city, with landscaping and lighting improvements surrounding the roundabouts.
SIDEWALKS
The city will be building sidewalks along Montclair Road this year, and possibly in a few other spots.
Construction on the Montclair Road sidewalk should start this month, according to Gaston, and some clearing work has already been done.
“We're excited about that project,” he said. “It'll provide great linkage to two other existing segments of sidewalk, leading people to English Village as well as Crestline Village.”
Mountain Brook received an award of federal Transportation Alternatives Program funding for the project, which will extend from Country Club Road to Mountain Brook Park Drive. Most of the new sidewalk will be constructed along Montclair Road, although a short segment will be constructed along Shannon Lane to tie to the existing sidewalk on Memory Lane.
The City has also secured federal funding with ALDOT to design and construct a sidewalk along Pine Ridge Road from Overbrook Road to Old Leeds Road.
The design of the project was approximately 75% complete in the fall of 2024, and the city is in the process of acquiring right-of-way and temporary easements necessary for the project. Right-of-way or easements are needed from over 30 property owners, so they hope to complete the right-of-way acquisitions in about a year, which would allow for construction to begin in late 2025, pending ALDOT approvals.
Sidewalks along Halbrook Lane have also been under conversation as Mountain Brook residents have raised concerns over traffic along the street. Halbrook Lane and Arundel Drive have been a topic of conversation at many City Council meetings in the past two years, and the streets have seen several changes in 2024, with the potential for more to come.
“Public Works will probably be doing some sidewalks on Halbrook Lane,” said Gaston. “We've had all these discussions about traffic reduction on that street and Arundel. And so we may be proceeding on the sidewalks on Halbrook Lane this coming fiscal year too.”
Mountain Brook’s council first took up the issue in late 2022 after residents reached out,
and officials continue to look for a solution. Last year, they passed a no-through-traffic ordinance and installed corresponding signs in May, placed speed humps on streets on July 18-19 and added chicanes on July 23.
After further conversation, the no-through-traffic ordinance was removed and replaced with a no-truck ordinance, and the chicanes were also recently removed. Analysis of the size and placement of the speed humps is also underway.
Many have mentioned sidewalks as a possible solution to the safety concerns caused by traffic issues.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
The property that was previously home to Shades Valley Church will soon offer new housing options in Mountain Brook, marking a new development in the city.
The church was demolished in September after the congregation had dwindled to less than 80 in weekly worship. The property was sold to Montevallo Partners LLC, owned by real estate developer John F. Chapman and Margie Ingram, owner of Ingram and
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Left: Two kids walk down Halbrook Lane in Mountain Brook in the grass. Soon, the city will add sidewalks to these streets that experience through-traffic. Photo by Savannah Schmidt. Center: Condos and single-family homes will take the place of the former Shades Valley Presbyterian Church near Mountain Brook Village off of Hollywood Boulevard in 2025. Illustration courtesy of Nequette Architecture. Right: An aeriel view of the completed Brookwood Village, circa 1970s. Photo courtesy of Brookwood VIllage.
Homewood, Mountain Brook and Jefferson County.
Mountain Brook recently entered an intergovernmental cooperative agreement with the city of Homewood with respect to the property, and the agreement requires the cities to con-
Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch wishes the city a Happy New Year.
Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
“Hopefully, some of that will help divert more traffic down 459 and 280 as opposed to cutting through the center of Mountain Brook,” said Sam Gaston, Mountain Brook’s city manager.
The project will have several components to it, starting at the Rosedale Drive intersection in Homewood and ending where 280 crosses the Cahaba River:
► Resurfacing of both directions of 280 from Rosedale Drive to Lakeshore Drive.
► Widening of both directions from Lakeshore Drive to I-459.
► Resurfacing from I-459 to the Cahaba River.
► Replacement of the Pump House Road bridge.
Josh Phillips, a spokesman for ALDOT, said the resurfacing will maintain the road and add to its safety and the expansion was needed for the amount of traffic on 280.
“We’re trying to lower travel times for people on the roadways,” he said. “280 has grown so much that adding capacity just becomes necessary to try to keep traffic moving as much as we can through there so that people spend less time on the road and more time doing the things they want.”
The project total cost has not been released because the Department of Transportation is still taking bids, Phillips said.
Until those bids are in and have been accepted by the department, he said, there will be no decision on which part of the project will begin first because ALDOT will not know the availability of the crews.
Phillips also said the project’s start date would be dependent on the weather, since the laying of asphalt needs to have consistent warmer temperatures to be applied.
“You’re probably looking at February-ish before you see something being done out there, as far as any clearing or taking up anything,” he said. “And then March before you see asphalt.”
Due to these variables, Phillips said while the project could start in February, it could be anywhere in the window of the first quarter of 2025.
There will need to be preparation on the sides of the road for the widening portion of the work, which may involve clearing plots of land and moving dirt.
The department will work at night, Phillips said, in an attempt to mitigate traffic disruption along the corridor.
“There will be some times where we have traffic impacts — we’ll have to shift lanes over a little bit or whatever,” he said. “But that’s why a lot of the work’s being done at night, to hopefully minimize those traffic impacts.”
Phillips said the widening would take the majority of the time, and the resurfacing generally takes much less time.
The project’s start comes a year later than what was originally announced. In December 2023, the project was expected to have started in late spring 2024.
While Phillips didn’t know why the project was moved, he said road construction projects have a window in which to begin so that the temperatures reach a point where asphalt can be applied. A number of factors could have caused missing the window for the 280 expansion project, he said, including utility relocation
or design changes.
“If you miss this window, it doesn’t just bump it two months, three months,” he said. “It ends up bumping it an entire year.”
For the municipalities closest to the project, there is hope the project will not only create better traffic flow on 280, but also alleviate some of the cut-through traffic that people use to avoid the highway.
Mountain Brook currently has cut-through traffic around Overton Road and Cherokee Road. The on-ramps for both locations will now be incorporated into the new lanes. Residents had been concerned that the new design would create more back-ups at the intersection, which is controlled by traffic lights. However, Gaston said he was told the timing at those lights would be changed to accommodate any traffic backup on Overton Road.
Mountain Brook City Councilwoman Graham Smith said as other areas have grown, the new residents have used Mountain Brook as a shortcut.
“Liberty Park has blown up,” Smith said. “And we’re thrilled for our neighbors. We’re happy for Vestavia, but we need some traffic
planning that would potentially remediate and take some volume off of our roads, our local roads.”
Another point of contention during the planning was the expansion of the Pump House Road bridge, which runs over 280. Pump House Road is another road that drivers use to cut across Mountain Brook to get access to the highway.
“I understand when you’re trying to build a large project that there’s going to be pressure points in those areas,” Smith said. “However, we’re not looking to have the bridge expanded to bring more traffic to those local back roads. I would consider that a local back road versus an artery to drive traffic to Liberty Park. We’re hoping that they will utilize 280 and take 459 and see that as the best option.”
The City of Vestavia Hills says it also hopes the expansion will ease the number of cars cutting through residential neighborhoods and incentivize drivers to use the main thoroughfares.
“The traffic volumes on the U.S. [280] highway corridor have surpassed the original projections for the roadway for quite some time,” said Cinnamon McCulley, assistant city manager of Vestavia Hills. “We are hopeful that the additional lanes will help ease congestion, increase efficiency and allow drivers to utilize Highway 280 as opposed to cut-through routes through surrounding communities.”
However, in the short term, McCulley said she expects more traffic in those residential areas while construction is underway.
“I suspect cut-through traffic will temporarily increase in the Mountain Brook and Cahaba Heights areas as drivers attempt to avoid delays that generally occur with road projects,” she said.
But both Gaston and McCulley said changing those traffic patterns wouldn’t be such an easy thing given the psychology of the drivers who believe cutting through residential neighborhoods is quicker than traveling 280 and I-459.
“We understand it may take some time for drivers to adjust their commuting routes,” McCulley said, “but feel sure drivers will utilize Highway 280 if it proves to be as efficient as anticipated.”
Above: Traffic on U.S. 280 speeds by during rush hour on Nov. 22. To address the congestion issues, the city approved the addition of an extra lane on either side of the road from Lakeshore Drive to I-459. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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