February 2024 | Volume 14 | Issue 11
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FINISHING
STRONG
Jelks
Richardson
2 Mountain Brook teachers chosen for state Teacher of the Year competition By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
Ty Davis aiming to cap MBHS basketball career on top By KYLE PARMLEY
N
either Ty Davis nor his dad, Tyler, has taken the time to sit back and reflect on the journey just yet. That’s because there is still a chapter or two left to write, and they want to make the most of it. Ty Davis, a Mountain Brook High School senior, is currently putting the finishing touches on a stellar high school basketball career. He has had the fortune of playing for
his dad for the last four years at Mountain Brook, but there’s no time to stop and smell the roses. They both hope to help lead the Spartans to a Class 6A state championship in early March. “Once we get into the [season] grind and it starts, I’m so focused on what the task at hand is that I haven’t had an opportunity [to reflect],” Tyler Davis said. Ty Davis echoes a similar sentiment, saying he is “focused on winning the day” each day as he laces up his basketball shoes.
That focus will persist through season’s end, and there’s reason to believe Mountain Brook could be one of the final teams left standing. Mountain Brook last won a state title three years ago, which was the program’s sixth over a nine-year span. In the last two seasons, the Spartans were ousted by the eventual state champ and earned the state runner-up trophy last spring.
See STRONG | page A16
Mountain Brook Elementary’s Sarah Richardson and Mountain Brook Junior High’s Craig Jelks have been chosen as the school district’s elementary and secondary Teachers of the Year for 2023-24. They will represent Mountain Brook Schools at the statewide Teacher of the Year competition. The Teachers of the Year from the other four Mountain Brook schools were: ► Brookwood Forest Elementary: Perry Wright, kindergarten ► Cherokee Bend Elementary: Leah Saab, kindergarten ► Crestline Elementary: Kendra Bierbrauer, fifth grade math ► Mountain Brook High School: Kelly Chaffin, special education The Alabama Teacher of the Year program identifies exceptional teachers, counselors, librarians and other certified educators from across the state. Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent Dicky Barlow said to be recognized by colleagues, students and parents in this way is a tremendous honor.
Mountain Brook’s Ty Davis (3) shoots a layup guarded by Vestavia Hills’ Jackson Weaver (3) in a game at Spartan Arena on Dec. 5. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
INSIDE
Sponsors...........................A4 City.....................................A6
Business............................A9 Community......................A12
Schoolhouse................... A14 Events.............................. B10
See TEACHERS | page A18 Opinion.............................B12 Sports...............................B13 facebook.com/villageliving
MBCD App
Medical Guide
The Mountain Brook Police Department make updates to its app to make services more accessible to residents.
Get to know some of the health and wellness providers in the Mountain Brook area.
See page A7
See page B1
A2 • February 2024
Village Living
SPONSORED CONTENT
Mountain Brook residents open new, state-of-the-art Facial Plastic Surgery practice
A
n exciting new medical practice, Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery, is now open in downtown Homewood. Headed by Dr. Blake Raggio — a highly skilled Facial Plastic Surgeon and Mountain Brook resident — the facility focuses exclusively on providing patients with the latest cosmetic and aesthetic procedures for the eyes, face, nose and neck. Dr. Raggio has dedicated his entire career to becoming an expert in these procedures. Not only has Dr. Raggio obtained extensive training in both Facial Plastic Surgery and Head & Neck Surgery, but he has continually refined his techniques over the last several years in practice. “We’re able to provide patients the safest, most up-todate techniques,” he says. Procedures are performed in the Raggio MD office which represents a state-of-the-art medical facility with no detail overlooked. Dr. Raggio says he’s “beyond thrilled” about his practice, which opened in January at 1920 Huntington Road. “Opening a private practice has always been my ultimate goal, and we couldn’t have found a better location,” he says. Homewood is centrally located for patients from across Birmingham, including Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. In addition, downtown Homewood “has an upscale yet inviting atmosphere and is the perfect setting for our boutique practice,” Dr. Raggio says. Dr. Raggio and his wife, Kristin, who’s a registered nurse, co-own Raggio MD, and Kristin serves as practice manager. New Orleans natives, Dr. Raggio and Kristin moved to Birmingham in October and live in Mountain Brook. “From a surgical perspective, we’re excited to share our expertise in cosmetic rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation procedures, including face, neck, brow and eyelid lifts,” Dr. Raggio says. “In addition, we’ll provide non-surgical options, including Botox, dermal filler and other medical spa treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing and radiofrequency microneedling.” Raggio MD is the only cosmetic plastic surgery facility in the region offering in-house hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which promotes faster healing and less bruising, minimizes complications and enhances the result. Dr. Raggio earned his undergraduate degree at Louisiana State University and his medical degree at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed an extensive residency in Head & Neck Surgery at the Tulane University Medical Center. Dr. Raggio then finished a highly competitive fellowship program in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto with renowned rhinoplasty and deep-plane facelift surgeon, Jamil Asaria. He has dual board certification in both Facial Plastic Surgery and Head & Neck Surgery. One of Dr. Raggio’s most sought after and favorite procedures is the rhinoplasty. “I have great confidence in performing rhinoplasty for patients of all shapes and sizes, including teenage, male, ethnic, and Asian rhinoplasty concerns.” Beyond the primary rhinoplasty, Dr. Raggio also specializes in performing revision rhinoplasty for patients who may not have had a great first surgical experience. “We’re talking about complex revision rhinoplasties, which require using rib cartilage and other advanced techniques,” he says. “I have a tremendous amount of experience and expertise in the rhinoplasty arena, and I’m excited to offer these modern rhinoplasty techniques to Birmingham and the surrounding region. Dr. Raggio is also an expert at doing surgical full-facial rejuvenations in which a patient has several procedures performed at once. “We’re doing more than just the routine eyelid surgery
Kristin Raggio and her husband, Dr. Blake Raggio, owners of Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery
► WHERE: 1920 Huntington Road ► PHONE: 659-272-0092 ► WEB: raggiomd.com
or a facelift, but rather we’re focusing on panfacial rejuvenation by implementing cutting-edge therapies such as full-face fat grafting, surgical lip lifts, and deep-plane facelift and neck lift techniques,” he says. Both rhinoplasties and full-facial rejuvenations are “extremely rewarding procedures to perform, and the results are often life-changing,” Dr. Raggio says. His practice also offers the best in non-surgical facial rejuvenation, including “full-face botox treatments and filler treatments that are really safe, modern and effective techniques,” he says. It’s very gratifying to start a business with his wife, Dr. Raggio says. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else more to not only run the practice but also interact with patients,” he says. “As the surgeon, the technician, I have a vision, and sometimes it’s hard to articulate that, but Kristin gets it and is able to help bring it to life in every aspect of the practice.” “I believe Blake and I make an outstanding team because we share the same goals and philosophy regarding patient care,” Kristin says. “Blake and I truly understand each other. We know what works and, more importantly, what doesn't. In addition, we are both perfectionists and never settle for anything less than exceptional.” The co-owners hope to create a warm, friendly, inviting atmosphere at the practice. “In New Orleans, Southern hospitality is alive and well, and we want to bring that to what we do here,” Dr. Raggio says. “Patients love our bedside manner and like the warm, friendly interaction.” The couple have a growing young family, with three children — a 7-year-old girl, 4-year-old girl and 16-month-old boy — and a fourth child on the way. They’re very happy they moved to Mountain Brook.
“The people are kind, the landscape is beautiful and the city’s infrastructure and amenities are top-notch, including a great public school system,” Dr. Raggio says. “It’s a perfect place to raise a family and start a new business. Mountain Brook may be the South’s best-kept secret.” Dr. Raggio’s work with patients brings him a lot of satisfaction. “I’m blessed with the incredible opportunity to positively impact people’s lives,” he says. “My patients entrust me with their care, and this is something I take very seriously and enjoy thoroughly.” Dr. Raggio listens carefully to each patient’s desires and concerns in order to design a personalized treatment plan. He also makes sure they fully understand what he can offer them and — more importantly — what he can’t offer them. “Sometimes the hardest thing I have to do is say ‘no’ to a patient, or to steer them away from a certain desired treatment or procedure,” he says. “We focus a lot of our attention on listening to patients and educating them before we even consider moving forward with a procedure,” Kristin says. “I have a duty and responsibility to the patient to provide them with a treatment plan that I feel confident will produce a beautiful result that will be safe, natural and conform with the classical standards of beauty – a result that we would both be happy with and proud to share,” Dr. Raggio says. Dr. Raggio has an artistic eye and a keen appreciation for beauty — essential traits for a plastic surgeon. “It’s about understanding facial proportions, balance and harmony, as well as identifying how to maximize that certain individual’s traits to their fullest potential,” he says. These principles allow him to “deliver a subtle, natural result that stands the test of time,” he says. In addition, Dr. Raggio “tirelessly searches” for ways to refine his skills and “maximize the patient experience,” he says. “The journey never ends.” “Our passion for excellence will allow us to deliver that outstanding patient experience that we know people will love at Raggio MD,” Kristin says.
der
VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • A3
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A4 • February 2024
Village Living
About Us Publisher’s Note By Dan Starnes Did you know that we really love it when our readers submit local community events for us to share? We know that publishing these is a huge service to the community, so we promote these in all four outlets of your paper: print, email newsletter, website and social media. Here are the criteria for events to be published in advance: ► The event must take place in Mountain Brook ► It needs to be open to the public ► For us to publish the event in print, we usually need to receive it at least 3 weeks before the first day of the month in which the event
will use our editorial judgment when selecting from events that may have a promotional angle for a business. While an event being sponsored by a business obviously won’t keep it from being published, we’ll be looking for elements that make the event entertaining for the general public. To submit your event, you can do so online at the QR code below or email me at dan@starnesmedia.com.
happens. We’re looking for any events that may be entertaining to our readers. We
PHOTO OF THE MONTH The Mountain Brook Dorians perform during halftime at a game against Woodlawn at Spartan Arena on Jan. 9. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Publisher: Dan Starnes
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Community Editors: Jon Anderson Leah Ingram Eagle Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Design Editor: Melanie Viering Photo Editor: Erin Nelson Sweeney Page Designer: Ted Perry
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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.
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February 2024 • A5
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A6 • February 2024
Village Living
City
Winthrop Ave. parking forbidden during school dismissal By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. With a 3-2 vote, the Mountain Brook City Council passed a resolution during its Jan. 8 meeting to designate the north side of Winthrop Avenue as “no parking” on weekdays around the time that Mountain Brook Junior High School dismisses. Virginia Smith, Gerald Garner and Billy Pritchard voted to prohibit parking on Winthrop from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. Lloyd Shelton and Graham Smith voted against the measure. An ordinance to make Winthrop Avenue a one-way street from Alden Lane to Overbrook Road could not be considered, since the council did not have unanimous consent to take action. Shelton and Graham Smith objected, so the matter will be presented at a later meeting. Residents attended a prior council meeting to express concern about snarled traffic on the streets near MBJH, including potential access issues for emergency vehicles. Tony Ankar, an Alden Lane resident, spoke during the meeting and said he was concerned that the prescribed actions would adversely affect the street where he and his family live. Richard Caudle, a Skipper Consulting traffic engineer, said traffic flow near the school has been studied since August 2023. The initial plan called for changes on Norman Drive and Winthrop, but that was abandoned after residents complained. “My ask to the committee is to
Mountain Brook City Council member Billy Pritchard during a Jan. 8 discussion of traffic problems around Mountain Brook Junior High. Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
consider all the options,” Ankar said. “Consider even things like a school lottery for pickup times; consider things that other municipalities are doing to alleviate congestion, given the increase in student count and that kind of thing.” Ankar also asked about parking schemes the school has related to pick-up and suggested coordinating with nearby churches to use their parking lots. Pritchard said the school only governs parking on its
property; he added that there is no formal agreement with churches to provide parking for those picking up students after school. “I object to any change that's going to increase the traffic, increase potential safety [concerns] on Alden Lane,” Ankar said. “That's my position, and I believe that my neighbors, the 11 of them that wrote before, saw this plan and thought, 'Boy, this isn't really any different than what we expressed.' I'm not sure our concern
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was heard.” Garner said he took the stance of safety first. “You might not like our decision, but that's the most important thing to me,” he said, acknowledging that the council can reassess the matter in the future. “We looked at the traffic studies and the safety issues on Overton Road and built rumble strips as a safety precaution to slow people coming around that curve. “We went with that for a while,
and the neighbors came back to us and said we're seeing no benefit, we’re just seeing nuisance,” Garner continued. “And we reversed it.” During the Jan. 8 meeting, the council agreed to send a letter of support, along with the City of Birmingham, regarding the proposal by Bryson Stephens of the Red Mountain Cut Foundation to develop sidewalks and crosswalks from Mountain Brook’s English Village to the entrance to Birmingham’s Vulcan Park. Mayor Stewart H. Welch III presented proclamations for National Mentoring Month and Human Trafficking Awareness Month. He also recognized Vince Schilleci for his service to the city’s editorial board and swore in KC Hairston, who was reappointed as presiding judge in the city. In other action, the council: ► Approved the contractor agreement with Speyer Roofing for the decking and roof demolition and removal of the patio at City Hall. ► Ratified and approved the internal transfer of funds for the year Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023. ► Accepted a proposal by Motorola Solutions for video evidence management for in-car video storage and body-worn camera storage. ► Approved the purchase of a new fire pumper for the fire department. ► Authorized the sale or disposal of certain surplus property.
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VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • A7
MBPD app provides convenience for residents By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The Mountain Brook Police Department’s app has recently updated its services to provide new ways for the community to communicate issues to law enforcement. The app originally launched in 2021 and serves as a way to consolidate information and make it more accessible for residents. In mid-November, an app update added options to submit tips to each school’s SRO and to submit animal control complaints. All seven Mountain Brook Schools have their own tabs, which provide information on the school and the school resource officer’s contact information and photo, as well as a "Submit a Tip" button that goes directly to the SRO. It can be anonymous if preferred and provides a space for the information as well as date and time of the incident. “Having our schools featured would benefit a lot of our community,” said Megan Thomas, community relations officer with the Mountain Brook Police Department. The other new feature is a tab for animal control officer Preston Sloan. It contains Sloan’s contact information, the Mountain Brook Municipal Code on animals and what happens when dogs are found. Animal complaints can also be submitted by name or anonymously. Thomas said Sloan does his best to find a loose dog’s owner by calling the number on their tag or having them checked for a microchip. If that doesn’t work, the animal is taken to Hoke Animal Clinic and the owner
The Mountain Brook Police Department’s new app includes ways to find information and submit concerns about schools, animal control, police records and other services. Photo courtesy of the Mountain Brook Police Department.
has 10 days to claim it before it's put up for adoption. “We get a lot of animal control complaints, and we wanted to make that more accessible,” Thomas said. “Technically, our animal control exists to take care of domesticated animals, but sometimes owls or hawks
are found and taken to the Alabama Wildlife Center at Oak Mountain State Park.” Thomas said residents may not be aware that the MBPD offers a house watch service. When a homeowner fills out the request form with information and dates they will be out of
town, extra patrols can be provided at that address. The form includes space to provide information including expected visitors, if lights are left on or if cars are left in the driveway. The app also includes quick links for police services including information to obtain records requests and
accident reports, paying traffic citations, fingerprinting, the department’s ride-along program and internship program, hiring an off-duty officer for an event, an event permit application, citizen’s training registration and SNAP (special needs alert program). App users can also find access to the Jefferson County sex offender registry, information regarding suicide prevention, crime prevention tips, upcoming events, police command staff, press releases and more. Thomas said the best reason to have the app is for the push notifications from the department, such as National Weather Service alerts along with community events and traffic updates. “It’s very handy when trees are down,” she said. “We keep people updated as frequently as we can with a running list of what’s closed and cleared. Also, if a wreck closes a lane of traffic or planned road construction, that has an impact on traffic.” The MBPD has also recently made its lobby a safe exchange location. Thomas said a lot of purchases are being made on social media via Facebook marketplace, Instagram and other sites. “We wanted to offer that because it's under 24-hour video and audio surveillance and provides a neutral location people can meet,” Thomas said. “[Buyers and sellers] can come meet in the lobby and have the exchange. If it’s not a legitimate sale, the seller or buyer will not be interested in exchanging at the police department.” The MBPD app is a free download and can be found by searching "Mountain Brook PD" in the App Store.
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A8 • February 2024
Village Living
Mayor’s Minute By Stewart Welch III Well, it’s official! The Alabama Veterans Memorial Park is now the city’s eighth park. I want to personally thank Tom Martin and the Veterans Park Board for their incredibly generous donation of this beautiful property. The park consists of 22 acres, which includes a beautiful Hall of Honor Memorial that lists over 11,000 Alabama veterans who died in conflict post-Civil War on its walls. Although I did not realize it until recently, my family has a personal connection to the park. My uncle was killed in active combat during World War II. I visited the memorial and found his name. It brought back memories of conversations with my mother and how she tearfully talked about her brother and how hard the loss was for her, decades later. Stewart Welch III For me, visiting the memorial is a solemn reminder of just how many Alabamians gave their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. It is a beautiful memorial and evokes quiet reflection and profound appreciation. Beyond the memorial lies 20-something acres of great potential. I recently walked the property with Nimrod Long and Associates principal Joel Eliason, ASLA. We came away excited about what “could be.” Certainly, nature trails are in the mix. Joel will assist in developing a master plan of ideas. In the meantime, Shanda Williams, of our Parks and Recreation Department, is working on projects related to safety and security for the park, as well as some sprucing up to make it even more beautiful. My hope is that each of you will visit our newest park; take your children or grandchildren. It is a tranquil, meandering walk through the woods and offers an opportunity for a conversation about how freedom is not free and how so many Alabamians made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us. If you have a family member or friend who was an Alabama veteran and who was killed in action in the service of our country, visit the memorial and find his or her name on the wall. You will find it an emotionally moving experience. The park is located across from our high school baseball fields, near the I-459 interchange off exit 23. For more information, visit alabamaveterans.org. Their website includes a list of all the KIA veterans whose names are on the wall, listed by conflict and alphabetically by county.
The Mountain Brook police and fire departments’ graduates of the National Honor Guard Academy with their fellow officers. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Fire Department.
Mountain Brook fire, police officers complete National Honor Guard Academy By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE In November, the Mountain Brook Police Department hosted the National Honor Guard Academy. During the event, 11 different agencies from three states were represented among the graduates. Three officers from the Mountain Brook Police Department were graduates of the course: Sgt. Brad Timothy, Sgt. Adam
Ennis and officer Zachary Dreher, along with one member of the Mountain Brook Fire Department, Will Caldwell. The training helps honor guard units elevate their ceremonial knowledge and skill level. The Mountain Brook honor guard unit assists with various ceremonies throughout the year, including the wreath-laying ceremonies for fallen officers.
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VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • A9
Business
Business Happenings NOW OPEN Crestline Pet Care PC, associated with Village Pet Care PC, is now serving patients in their Mountain Brook location at 253 Country Club Park. They provide extensive veterinary care to small animals in Mountain Brook and surrounding areas. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 205-582-2013, crestlinepetcarepc.com
builders and expert craftsmen to create the client’s dream space. They work with both residential and commercial clients. 205-871-8294, rubyansleyinteriors.com Great American Cookie and Marble Slab Creamery are celebrating their fourth year in their Cahaba Village location at 3000 Cahaba Village Place, Suite 120. 205-573-6115, gacandmarbleslab.com
Rheumatology Associates has been open at 12 Office Park Circle in Mountain Brook for one year. They offer a wide variety of in-house services including digital imaging, bone density (DXA), phlebotomy with in-house laboratory facilities, a dedicated infusion center and wellness infusions. They are open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. 205-933-0320, alrheumatology.com
ANNIVERSARIES
Total Fitness Consultants is celebrating two years at their location at 2833 Culver Road in Mountain Brook. They have a dedicated team of certified trainers ready to help create a personalized training plan for you to achieve your fitness goals. 205-783-1113, totalfit.org
Ruby Ansley Interiors, 2806 Petticoat Lane, recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. They provide professional design services by working with architects,
13
Chop N Fresh recently celebrated its two-year anniversary at 291 Rele St. in Lane Parke. They are committed to clean food and clean ingredients in their salads and grain bowls. 205-438-6655, chopnfresh.com
th
ANNUAL
Remembering Timothy Keller: AN EV ENING WITH COLLIN H ANSEN February 20, 2024 at 7 p.m. Samford University’s Reid Chapel
Get Tickets
Business News to Share? Do you have news to share with the community about a business in Mountain Brook or the greater Birmingham area? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings
A10 • February 2024
Village Living
Rougaroux opens second location in Mountain Brook By SARAH GILLILAND A popular Louisiana-inspired restaurant in Forest Park, Rougaroux, just opened a brand-new location Mountain Brook this year. “I’ve been a part-time resident of New Orleans for several years [because of my job] and my partner, Ryan Champion, worked for [New Orleans restaurant] Commander’s Palace,” co-owner Ed Stacey said. “We had been talking about the idea of opening a po’boy shop, so that's what we did in 2017, after we found our location in Forest Park.” The new Rougaroux location offers Cajun and Creole cuisine in the former Sneaky Pete’s building on 2716 Culver Road. “One of our regular customers, Jay Friedman, bought the property that we’re going into with the idea of opening some kind of restaurant,” Stacey said. “Jay also lived in New Orleans for a while, and he reached out to us, and we started bouncing the idea around and finally decided to pull the trigger on it.” Rougaroux has gained a strong following since its establishment in Birmingham. With its new location, the restaurant aims to continue delivering its signature dishes that celebrate the rich culinary traditions of Louisiana. The menu includes traditional po’boys, featuring shrimp, roast beef, oysters, catfish and eggplant. The specialty po’boys include oysters Rockefeller, roast beef, blackened catfish, smoked chicken and bacon, barbecue shrimp, surf and turf and seafood. Side offerings are creole fries, red beans and rice, muffuletta pasta salad, collard greens and potato salad. The menu also features New Orleans favorites of gumbo, housemade Boudin links, muffuletta and brisket burger. “Ryan is going to be the corporate chef over both locations. Ryan’s got about 25 years of kitchen experience, and I’ve got about the same amount of experience in the industry, so between us we have about 50 years of experience,” Stacey said. “With the roadmap of what we’re doing already in place from our Forest Park location,
Menu items at Rougaroux include the swordfish sandwich (left) and shrimp po’boy and gumbo (right). Rougaroux opened a new location, at the former Sneaky Pete’s storefront, in Mountain Brook Village on Jan. 10. Photos courtesy of Ed Stacey.
that’ll help us quite a bit.” With the decision to expand to a new customer base in Mountain Brook, Stacey said much about Rougaroux’s two locations will be the same, but the restaurants won’t be identical. “We’re going to lean into what the building was,” Stacey said. “We couldn’t totally recreate that same atmosphere [from the Forest Park] with this location, but we’re still going for a coastal,
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seafood, dive, diner type of vibe.” Stacey said that the menu for the new location will be pretty much the same as the Forest Park location, but they are planning on adding a few new dishes like salads and seafood baskets. They opened in early January, just in time for Mardi Gras season. “We generally do a lot of specials throughout Mardi Gras and the weeks approaching it. Some
items that aren’t normally on the menu that are New Orleans staples, like jambalaya and crawfish étouffée — I’m sure we’ll incorporate some of that,” Stacey said. Rougaroux’s Mountain Brook location is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are only open on Sundays when the New Orleans Saints are playing. For more information, visit rougarouxbhm.com.
VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • A11
Left: Jaylen Daffin drizzles chocolate syrup over a cookie as she prepares an order for a customer at Crumbl Cookies in Lane Parke. Above: A variety of cookies on Crumbl’s weekly menu are displayed. Photos by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Crumbl Cookies location opens in Lane Parke BY SARAH GILLILAND Crumbl Cookies Mountain Brook is officially open for business. Jason and Rebecca Dickey, owners of the Birmingham-area locations of the franchise, are proud to have their third store open in Lane Parke. The Dickeys also own the locations in Vestavia Hills, Alabaster and Greystone. In 2019, the couple began researching jobs for Rebecca as their children were beginning high school and becoming more independent. While they were still considering their options, Rebecca visited the first East Coast location of Crumbl Cookies in Tennessee.
“I went in there and thought, ‘This is it. This is what I want to do.’ So we began a journey [learning] about how to franchise the Crumbl brand,” she said. Crumbl started in Utah in 2017 and has since expanded to more than 800 stores in all 50 states and Canada. There are 15 total locations across Alabama. Crumbl has a signature menu of flavors that rotate weekly, from classics like chocolate chip and pink sugar cookies to specialty flavors like blueberry muffin and Oreo mallow sandwich. They also occasionally partner with film studios like Warner Bros. and Illumination Entertainment to promote recently released movies with
special flavors that tie in to the films. Due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, building out their first location in Vestavia Hills took a long time. However, about three months after its opening in July 2021, the Dickeys applied to expand the franchise into other Birmingham areas. Rebecca said that her passion for Crumbl Cookies is not so much about the bakery, but it's really about the business. “I’ve always loved growing something. To be really great at quality and really great at customer service, and making a difference in our community — that’s what’s really been important to me,” she said.
By corporate mandate, they have to hire more than 70 employees at each location in order to open. Rebecca said that mandate has worked out well for them, and she’s proud to employ people from the local community. “I love getting to make a difference in people’s lives and offer jobs. That has been a real big win for me personally — being able to make a difference in employees’ lives and then in the community,” she said. Crumbl Cookies Mountain Brook is located at 360 Rele Street, between Tasc and Cadence Bank. It is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
A12 • February 2024
Village Living
Community Have a community announcement? Email Leah Ingram Eagle at leagle@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
O’Neal Library introduces sensory kit By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE The O’Neal Library recently implemented a sensory kit as a new service for patrons with sensory needs. “It's available for in-library use and is designed to support the sensory needs of teens and adults and help neurodivergent patrons have a more comfortable time in the library,” said Sara Hardy, a library assistant in the adult and young adult departments. The kit is located on the second floor, at the adult services desk and is available upon request. It’s not a requirement to be a member of the library to use the kit, and the goal is to reduce anxiety and frustration and increase focus for guests. “We also have a lot of neurodivergent teens visit the library, and being more aware of the sensory needs of people led us to want to offer things to help them have a better time in the library,” Hardy said. “They can look through it and they can take what they want for use in the library,” she said. When they are done, we ask that they wipe down the items and return to the kit.” Hardy got guidance from an occupational therapist in creating the kit. It’s set up like a menu for those with sensory needs to decide what items in the kit can best help them. Guests are asked to wipe down and return the items when they’re done. “Kids with sensory needs have a lot more structure and support built into their routine, but once they become adults out in the world, there’s not as much support. We wanted to have services for them and are working on programming as well to help give space and support
Items included in the library’s sensory kit are available for patrons to use to enhance their experience during their visit to the library. Photo courtesy of Sara Hardy.
for adults who have those kinds of needs,” she said. Hardy said she tried to include items for each of the eight sensory systems: vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch, vestibular (the sense of head movement in space), proprioception (the sense of the body’s movement) and interoception (understanding sensations inside the body, such as temperature or hunger). The kit includes a handout with an explanation of its contents and information about
sensory needs. “You can be over-responsive or under-responsive in each of these systems, and the handout is to help people navigate the items in the kit,” Hardy said. The sensory kit at O’Neal Library includes: ► Weighted lap pads ► Noise canceling earmuffs ► Disposable ear plugs ► Visual bubble timers ► Blue light filtering glasses
► Scent canisters ► Filtering face masks ► A variety of fidgets ► Mindfulness cards ► Movement cards ► Mints There is also a comment card with the kit, and patrons are encouraged to leave feedback when they use the kit to share what's useful and what's not, so the library can continue to improve its services.
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A14 • February 2024
Village Living
Schoolhouse Have a schoolhouse announcement? Email Leah Ingram Eagle at leagle@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
Mountain Brook, Altamont students rank high at Trumbauer competition By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE In December, Mountain Brook High School and Altamont School theater students competed at the Walter Trumbauer State Theatre Competition in individual and group events. From the Spartan Theatre program, 12 individual student performances received Excellent ratings and five individual performances received Superior ratings. The following MBHS students were placed in the top three in their individual categories: ► 1st Place, Musical Dramatic 2017-present (Novice): Olivia Mahoney ► 2nd Place, Acting Comedic 1901-1974 (Intermediate): Josie Gagliano The students who received Superior ranking for their performance included: ► Acting Dramatic 1901-1974 (Novice): Lillian O’Keeffe ► Acting Comedic 2005-present (Intermediate): Camden Rhodes ► Duet Reader’s Theatre Comedic (Intermediate): Olivia Carns and Josie Gagliano ► Duet Acting Comedic 1975-present (Intermediate): Lillian O’Keeffe and Camden Rhodes ► Musical Dramatic 2017-present (Novice): Maggie Bearden ► Musical Dramatic 1980-2016 (Novice): Wiley Cooper ► Musical Dramatic 1980-2017 (Intermediate): Lily Padgett ► Duet Musical Dramatic 1975-present (Intermediate): Mari Miller and Lily Padgett ► Playwriting (Novice): Maggie Bearden ► Playwriting (Varsity): Austin Langton ► Scene Design (Novice): Caitlin Speak ► Stage Management (Novice): William Stringfellow ► Five students received Excellent rankings
Davie and Kaavya Karthikeyan (directed by Reid Watson) ► Solo Musical Theatre Comedic (Varsity): Lilith Dyson ► Solo Musical Theatre Dramatic (Intermediate): Kaavya Karthikeyan ► Solo Acting Dramatic 1900-1974 (Varsity): Jimmy Sears (directed by Reid Watson) ► Duet Classical Acting (Varsity): Lucine Carsen and Jeremy Doster (directed by Emma McLain) ► Solo Musical Theatre Pre-1980 (Intermediate): Kaavya Karthikeyan (directed by Reid Watson) ► Solo Musical Theatre Pre-1980 (Intermediate): Caitlin Cornelius ► Solo Musical Theatre Pre-1980 (Varsity): Kirstan Davie The following students earned an Excellent rating: ► Solo Musical Theatre Pre-1980 (Varsity): Lilith Dyson ► Solo, Musical Dramatic 1980-2016 (Intermediate): Johnny Stumpff ► Duet Acting Dramatic (Novice): Ali LeJeune and Tylan Floyd (directed by Braxton Quinney) ► Duet Acting Dramatic (Novice): Sanjana Gaddamanugu and Madison Comer (directed by Gregg Weaver) ► Group Acting: Braxton Quinney, Watts Yancey, Lucine Carsen, Olivia Vanlandingham and Caitlin Cornelius (directed by Gregg Weaver) ► Group Acting: Valeria Blanco, Mitchell Hughey and Sanjana Gaddamanugu (directed by Tylan Floyd) ► Duet Acting Dramatic (Varsity): Lucine Casen and Jimmy Sears (directed by Watts Yancey)
Students from the Mountain Brook High School theatre program received high rankings at the Walter Trumbauer State Theatre competition. Photo courtesy of Jane Ganey.
for their performance: ► Acting Dramatic 1975-2004 (Novice): Olivia Carns ► Musical Comedic 1980-2016 (Intermediate): Austin Langton ► Musical Dramatic 1980-2017 (Varsity): Mari Miller ► Playwriting (Novice): Maggie Bearden ► Playwriting (Varsity): Austin Langton From Spartan Theatre’s production of “The Frogs,” three cast members were placed on the All-Star Cast for the state (Austin Langton and Mari Miller) and the performance won an overall superior rating. The Altamont School’s theater program also earned top state honors in the festival. The group advanced to the state stage after earning multiple honors in district competition, including Best In Show for the school’s production of
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"A Chorus Line." The following students earned state titles: ► Best In Show, Group Acting: Jeremy Doster, Travis Franklin, Lilith Dyson and Kirstan Davie (directed by Callen Hoke) ► 1st Place, Varsity Duet, Comedic Musical Theatre: Kirstan Davie and Johnny Stumpff (directed by Reid Watson) ► 2nd Place, Solo Comedic Musical Theatre (Novice): Alie LeJeune ► 2nd Place, Duet Comedic Musical Theatre (Novice): Callen Hoke and Bea Connell Students who earned a Superior rating included: ► Group Musical: Katie Soong, Jeremy Doster, Bea Connell, Lilith Dyson, Callen Hoke, Parker Denson, Watts Yancey, Caitlin Cornelius, Braxton Quinney, Ali LeJeune, Lucine Carsen, Tylan Floyd, Olivia Vanlandingham, Kirstan
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VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • A15
Cherokee Bend Elementary School. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Registration open for 2024-25 school year Angela Barry is now a school resource officer with Mountain Brook Schools, after more than 20 years of police experience. Photo courtesy of Mountain Brook Schools.
MBS welcomes new school resource officer Mountain Brook Schools and the Mountain Brook Police Department recently welcomed Angela Barry as the newest Mountain Brook Schools school resource officer (SRO). Officer Barry joins the SRO team and has been with MBPD for nearly three years. “The community here appreciates you, and I’ve seen firsthand how much kids in our community look up to their SRO,” Barry said about the role. “I think that’s important because I can be a friendly face to students, and they can feel safe to come to me and talk about certain things.” Before her time with MBPD, Officer Barry worked for the Birmingham Police Department for over 20 years, where she worked as a detective and fostered meaningful experiences working with children. She says her past work helped inspire and equip her to now work in a school setting.
“Our SROs are not only the cornerstone of our school safety plans, they are loved and admired by our entire school community,” MBS Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow said. “Our school personnel are already welcoming Officer Barry, and we’re excited about the chance for our students to know and connect with her.” Mountain Brook Chief of Police Jaye Loggins said he knows Barry will become part of the Mountain Brook school community. "Officer Barry has the experience and knowledge to handle any situation that arises," Loggins said. "She will complement our award-winning SRO team to make it even better. I'm positive that the children, staff and parents she interacts with will continue to be served and protected, as they have in the past." – Submitted by William Galloway, Mountain Brook Schools.
By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Kindergarten and new student registration is now open for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. To complete the registration process, visit the Mountain Brook Schools website at https:// www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/Page/25576 and follow the steps provided. Parents registering their children for kindergarten are asked to attend registration at their local school from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: ► Feb. 7: Brookwood Forest Elementary ► Feb. 13: Cherokee Bend Elementary ► Feb. 21: Mountain Brook Elementary ► Feb. 28: Crestline Elementary All kindergarten students must be five years old on or before Sept. 1, 2024. Documents required for enrollment: ► Proof of residency: All pages of a signed warranty deed or lease agreement. Lease agreements will need to list all occupants in the home (including children). Proof of residency is not required for families who currently have students attending school in the district.
► A copy of a current utility bill (not required for families who currently have students enrolled in MBS). ► If applicable, a custody agreement or court-appointed guardian documentation in cases of parent separation, divorce, foster or other arrangements. ► The child's Social Security card (voluntary) ► A birth certificate or other proof of age ► Copy of parent or guardian’s driver’s license ► Most current Certificate of Immunization (Original Form) even if your child is not yet five years old. For all other new students, the following documents to the Mountain Brook Board of Education at 32 Vine Street, Mountain Brook between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary. For any questions regarding the documents listed below, call 205-871-4608 or email mbsregistration@mtnbrook.k12.al.us. Returning student registration will be sent via email to parents at the beginning of February.
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Village Living
A16 • February 2024 STRONG
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A PART OF IT FOR MANY YEARS
Tyler Davis has been a part of the Mountain Brook basketball dynasty from the beginning, serving as an assistant to Bucky McMillan for many years before taking over the program when McMillan went to Samford University. The Davis family has photos from 11 years ago, when the Spartans won the first of their many state titles. Seen in some of them is a young Ty Davis, celebrating the players he looked up to, hoping to be in those same shoes one day. Ty Davis fondly remembers the days of being a water boy for the basketball team, as well as helping the assistant coaches keep stats during games. He burst onto the scene and helped Mountain Brook to the state championship as a freshman in 2021. He wasn’t the star on that team yet, with players like Rayven Turner and Bo Barber carrying the leadership mantle. Ty Davis began to take on more responsibility as a sophomore, as he settled into being a team leader and has carried that on his shoulders ever since. Among his favorite memories are the state championship team and getting to play alongside guys like Julius Clark for three years. He hopes to add a few more key memories before his time with the Spartans concludes.
BASKETBALL RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Mountain Brook basketball has
long been a family affair for the Davises, but it is even more so this year. Ty and freshman Trey are on the varsity boys team, while younger sister Avery — a seventh grader — is on the varsity girls team. “It’s a blessing,” Tyler Davis said of being able to coach his sons. “The ribbing that goes on at home has been fun. When we’re in the process and grind, you’re not able to take a seat and see it, but there’s a lot of joy in it.” As with any set of siblings, there are positive moments balanced with frustrating times for Ty and Trey. But Ty Davis has certainly enjoyed being able to pass to his younger brother for an open 3-pointer. “I know that every time I kick it out to him, I think it’s going down,” Ty Davis said. “Being able to share those moments, it’s really fun.” Tyler and Ashley Davis each played basketball in college, so they have been able to share their experiences with their children. “It’s not a definite that your kids are going to enjoy the game, and that’s been a cool thing that we do,” Tyler Davis said. “I don’t want it to be a scenario where that’s our identity, but it’s something all five of us enjoy.”
FINAL PUSH
Mountain Brook started off this season by winning its first seven games, two of them without Ty Davis in the lineup due to illness. While not the perspective he desired, he said it was nice “seeing our guys really come together and grow.” A tough portion of the schedule soon arrived, as the Spartans dropped a few games over November and December to stout teams.
Ty Davis (3) is shown in the Class 6A state championship semifinals at Bartow Arena in March 2021. He helped the Spartans to a state championship as a freshman and is aiming to repeat that accomplishment this season in his final campaign. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
One of those losses was to Myers Park out of North Carolina, one of the top public school programs in the nation. Another was to Huntsville, a team that has been the best in 7A for much of the year. As of press time, the Spartans were in the thick of area play, with their sights set on beginning a postseason run in February.
The Spartans’ senior class, which stands eight strong this season, wants to go out on a high note. Many of them have played together and known each other for the majority of their lives. Ty Davis has played with a few of them dating back to their kindergarten days. “A lot of us have been together
forever,” he said. “To watch them grow as a group to where they are now, it’s been really fun to watch.” Tyler Davis has seen the development of this class as well, harkening back to their third grade days of learning the same press defense Mountain Brook’s high school team still employs today. Ty Davis spent a couple years accumulating scholarship offers from colleges, but he narrowed his list to three schools last year. Over the summer, he took some official visits and eventually committed to Creighton University in June. He will be joining a program that has advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons and has been a fixture in the top 25 this season as well. “He played well enough and he is that caliber of player, and God opened the door to where he had three great options,” Tyler Davis said. “I feel that’s something he’s worked really hard for, and I’m thankful that’s something we can pass him onto.” There have been a few moments when Tyler Davis has been forced to take a moment and think back on all the things his eldest son has accomplished so far. He admitted that fall signing day at Mountain Brook stopped him in his tracks. The list of his son’s accomplishments is quite long already: he’s been named to the all-state team twice, scored over 1,500 career points and is ranked as the No. 67 player in his class by Rivals. But Ty Davis is hoping to add a few more team achievements to that list before he’s done at Mountain Brook. “Max out at the end of the year,” he said of his goal.
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February 2024 • A17
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A18 • February 2024 TEACHERS
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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.
“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,” Barlow said. “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.” Village Living caught up with each of the teachers to find out a little more about them and what this honor means to them.
PERRY WRIGHT: BROOKWOOD FOREST ELEMENTARY (KINDERGARTEN)
Wright is in her 21st year in education and has been at BFES for eight years. Q: Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? A: I actually homeschooled for a time after we moved, so I think my mom would be offended if I didn’t say that she was my favorite. Q: Why did you choose to become a teacher? A: Throughout my teen years, I always loved children. I chose teaching because I knew that I could teach in any place in the world and I also feel like teaching makes a huge impact on children and their families. Q: What’s your favorite part of your job? A: Seeing the children each day is for sure the highlight. They make every day brighter and I always have a funny story at the end of the day. Q: What does being named Teacher of the Year for your school mean to you? A: It is such an honor. I work alongside STELLAR teachers in an amazing school district. So for my colleagues to choose me to represent BWF this year is such a privilege. I know that I have become a better teacher since being here, and I just hope that I can be a part in making someone else grow in their journey as well.
Bierbrauer
Chaffin
Jelks
Richardson
Saab
Wright
improve. Q: Why did you choose to become a teacher? A: I love my students! The idea of influencing young children and guiding them toward their full potential, to me, seems to be the most important job you can have in life. Q: What’s your favorite part of your job? A: I love creating learning experiences that all students can be successful in. I really enjoy seeing students grow in math confidence and report back to me years later that they are excelling in the highest levels of math. Q: What does being named Teacher of the Year for your school mean to you? A: I think it means that my colleagues, families and students have trust and faith in my ability to represent them. I also think it means that I make a difference.
a teacher? A: I had wonderful teachers who really built relationships with my family and made learning fun and important. I hoped to have the same impact on others my teachers had on me. Q: What’s your favorite part of your job? A: Watching children learn new skills for the first time and seeing their families celebrate around them. Partnering with families is the best because you want your students to be successful in school, but you also want to give families the tools they need so they can be successful in every aspect of life. Families with children with special needs carry so much, and I just want to come alongside them to encourage and equip them as their children continue to learn and grow. Q: What does being named Teacher of the Year for your school mean to you? A: It truly is an overwhelming experience. I am so thankful for every opportunity Mountain Brook has given me. I get to learn from the very best and be surrounded by leaders who believe in children and their families. I have met some of the very best people, who have impacted my professional and my personal life in ways I could never express in words. I have the best team and I truly believe preschool is a magical place. I am humbled and honored to represent Mountain Brook. If you have a preschool-aged child and live in the district, please apply to join our program. We would love to meet you.
LEAH SAAB: CHEROKEE BEND ELEMENTARY (KINDERGARTEN)
Saab is in her eighth year in education and has spent her entire career at CBES. Q: Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? A: My favorite teacher was my sixth grade English teacher, Ms. Averhart. She was the best teacher for me because she prepared me for junior high and high school English like no other teacher could. Above all, she loved me, even when learning was not easy. Q: Why did you choose to become a teacher? A: I realized that I love working with children and that I have an opportunity to touch the lives of little ones in a special way, encouraging them, loving them and helping them understand how precious and valuable they are to this world. Q: What’s your favorite part of your job? A: I have the opportunity to work with children, exposing them to skills and information that is important to their learning. I truly enjoy teaching kindergarten standards and fostering a love of learning in my students. Furthermore, I am so thankful for the chance to simply be a person in their lives that loves them. Q: What does being named Teacher of the Year for your school mean to you? A: Being named Teacher of the Year has been the greatest honor given to me in my professional life. This honor has brought me joy and affirmation, and it has truly inspired me to continue being the best teacher I can be.
KENDRA BIERBRAUER: CRESTLINE ELEMENTARY (FIFTH GRADE MATH)
Bierbrauer has been in education for over 20 years in various capacities, including volunteering, substitute teaching and 12 years of full-time teaching at the elementary level. This is her seventh year at Crestline Elementary. Q: Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? A: Mr. Neider — he was my sixth grade social studies teacher and also my track coach. He cared about who I was and taught me how to be tough, work hard and to constantly
Village Living
SARAH RICHARDSON: MOUNTAIN BROOK ELEMENTARY (PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION)
Richardson has been in education for 10 years and at MBES for nine. Q: Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? A: Theresa Farmer, who taught fourth and fifth grade at Oak Mountain Intermediate School, and Trina Sularin, who taught history at Oak Mountain High School. Q: Why did you choose to become
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DICKY BARLOW
CRAIG JELKS: MOUNTAIN BROOK JUNIOR HIGH (NINTH GRADE WORLD HISTORY)
Jelks has been in education for 17 years and at MBJH for three years. Q: Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? A: My favorite teacher was my 12th grade government teacher, Mrs. Ulch. She taught the subject with such clarity that it captivated me. She was also what you would call "old school." That is, a no-nonsense teacher that took education seriously and demanded her students work hard. Q: Why did you choose to become a teacher? A: To be clear, I never wanted to become a teacher. I earned a B.A. degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a master's degree from Columbia University in New York. I wanted to be an attorney. Then, one day I saw a report on the national news stating there was a shortage of male teachers. The broadcast explained that students were in desperate need of male role models. For me, this was a calling. I would often complain to my college friends about the apathy of young people and saw this as an opportunity to make a difference. I abandoned my dream of becoming a lawyer and acquired a teaching certification. I was shocked that I was being paid for having no clue what I was doing. Nevertheless, I found joy in shaping the lives of young people. Almost 17 years later, that joy remains. Q: What’s your favorite part of your job? A: School has changed a lot over the last decade. Today, Instagram and TikTok have a prominent place in the lives of students. I have the task of engaging students to the extent that they forget about their cell phones and favorite apps. This is my favorite part of my job. I use events of the past (history) to arrest the attention of students in order to ultimately prepare them to become productive members of society. In fact, some of my lessons have made it to their social media feeds. Q: What does being named Teacher of the Year for your school mean to you? A: Mountain Brook Junior High School is a special place. Under the leadership of Principal Donald Clayton, I am convinced we will come to be known as "The Most Welcoming School in America." With so many gifted teachers here, it is the highlight of my teaching career to be selected as the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year. I am honored to represent our school and delighted that students feel empowered by the lessons I teach.
KELLY CHAFFIN: MOUNTAIN BROOK HIGH SCHOOL (SPECIAL EDUCATION)
Chaffin has been in education for 17 years and at MBHS for three years. She teaches 10beyond special education alternative achievement standards (which goes until age 21). Q: Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? A: My high school chemistry teacher, Ms. Carrol, we are still in touch. Q: Why did you choose to become a teacher? A: I started subbing first on Fridays and loved it Q: What’s your favorite part of your job? A: Building relationships and seeing students achieve their goals. Q: What does being named Teacher of the Year for your school mean to you? A: This has been such an honor for not just me, but the whole MBHS special education team, and the special education community here in Birmingham. I’m so thankful.
VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • A19
trust in the
best
to change your
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raypoynor.com | 205.879.3036
PUBLIX VILLAGE2VILLAGE RUN 2024 MARCH 9TH For Registration and Information Visit: www.village2village10k.com
presented by
Tickets on sale now! Birmingham Museum of Art February 17–August 18, 2024 Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume is curated by the Walt Disney Archives. Presented by PNC, with generous support from the Alabama Power Foundation, Vulcan Materials Company, and the Warner Foundation; as well as the patronage of the Marian and Albert Oberman Fund.
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FEBRUARY 2024
2024 SPRING
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
A community pharmacy with a family-centered approach RITCH’S PHARMACY For more than 75 years, Ritch’s Pharmacy has served the communities of Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook with personalized care and a family-centered approach. Ritch’s Pharmacy is an independent community pharmacy offering prescription medications and over-the-counter products located in Mountain Brook Village. They provide services and products ranging from immunizations, synchronized prescriptions, compliance packaging and home delivery. The four pharmacists on the team at Ritch’s Pharmacy — Ralph Sorrell, Becky Sorrell, Dr. Laura Scoggins and Pam Reeve — collectively have over 100 years of experience. The co-owner of Ritch’s Pharmacy, Becky Sorrell, alongside her husband Ralph Sorrell, said that being able to interact with patients in different communities in the greater Birmingham area and being apart of their healthcare team is invaluable. “We really focus on listening to our patients — we want you to be able to tell us your needs and work together to meet those goals.” Ritch’s Pharmacy also carries unique products that may be more difficult
► WHERE: 2714 Cahaba Road ► CALL: 205-871-1141 ► WEB: ritchspharmacy.com
to find elsewhere and they implement comprehensive health and wellness screenings. Ritch’s Pharmacy offers a convenient packaging system — a blister card that carries all necessary medicines according to certain days and times. This is a great tool to improve medication adherence and reduce medication errors for the patient and the caregiver. “In 2024, we will continue with our community outreach programs that began in 2024” Sorrell said. “Each month we make a special effort to be available for underserved areas of Jefferson and Shelby counties, offer support to first responder groups and workers in the food service industry.
t r a e k h n i th h t l a e h Stay well with Ritch’s & visit us for all your healthy heart needs
Prescriptions | Wellness | Gifts | & More Prescription Delivery Available 2714 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook | (205) 871-1141
2024 SPRING MEDICAL GUIDE
B2 • February 2024
Village Living
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
TherapySouth providing ‘Hands On Care, Close to Home — and Work!’ THERAPYSOUTH Q: What makes TherapySouth stand out in the physical therapy industry? A: TherapySouth is a private, physical therapist-owned practice that has been serving the greater Birmingham communities for over 15 years. Our numerous convenient locations across the metro area allows us to live out our message of providing “Hands On Care, Close to Home — and Work!” Our staff develop relationships with each patient and truly make the clinic environment feel like a family. With access to quality physical therapy care, we believe we can help our community live better, healthier lives! Q: Why should someone see a physical therapist? A: Most often, patients are referred to one of our clinics by their orthopedic surgeon or primary care physician to assist with recovery from an injury or procedure. But, physical therapy is beneficial to anyone seeking pain relief and improved function. The physical therapy approach is to evaluate the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems and address movement limitations or malalignments that are affecting mobility and causing pain. When patients come to physical therapy first, they can often avoid unnecessary surgery and medication. Through intentional exercises and hands — on treatment, patients can get back to their hobbies, everyday tasks and more. Q: Do I need a doctor’s referral to schedule an appointment at TherapySouth? A: Patients are welcome to schedule an initial evaluation appointment without a physician’s referral. Your therapist will perform an initial evaluation to determine if therapy is appropriate for you and communicate with your primary care physician, or physician specialist, to obtain approval for ongoing treatment. You can also receive wellness services depending on the nature of your problem. To schedule an appointment, patients can call the clinic directly or visit our website to check appointment availability and set up an initial visit. Q: What would you like potential patients to know about your practice? A: We take our core values very seriously. We are a company based on faith that believes in family, integrity, service, compassion, fitness, perseverance, and giving. We try to instill these values in all our employees and encourage them to live them out not only at work as professionals, but also in their personal lives. Q: What does a first visit look like at TherapySouth? A: During the initial evaluation, your therapist will take a thorough history of your condition or injury and review past medical history that may influence your case. Appropriate baseline objective measures will be recorded to evaluate throughout your treatment, such as range of motion and strength. Together, you and your therapist will discuss and set goals to help you achieve maximum function. Your therapist will determine a treatment plan and prescribe a home exercise program for you to perform at home to compliment therapeutic activities performed in the clinic. In addition, skilled manual techniques are utilized to further enhance recovery. Your therapist will communicate and coordinate with other health care professionals as needed to provide optimal care.
Crestline ► WHERE: 205 Country Club Park ► CALL: 205-871-0777 ► WEB: therapysouth.com
Liberty Park ► WHERE: 3800 River Run Drive, Suite 102 ► CALL: 205-970-2350 ► WEB: therapysouth.com
VillageLivingOnline.com
2024 SPRING MEDICAL GUIDE
February 2024 • B3
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
HEALTHY NEW YEAR!
www.therapysouth.com CRESTLINE You don’t have to face your new fitness resolutions alone. At TherapySouth you’ll find a movement expert who will work with you to develop an individualized exercise program to help you feel stronger and reduce pain. With an Annual Movement Screening, your PT can assess your mobility and strength to help you face everything this new year will bring. Scan this code to schedule an appointment and start a Healthy New Year.
205 Country Club Park 205.871.0777 Zach Edwards, Clinic Director
LIBERTY PARK 3800 River Run Drive Suite 102 205.970.2350 Derek Van Gerwen, Clinic Director
2024 SPRING MEDICAL GUIDE
B4 • February 2024
Village Living
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
UAB returns ‘value’ to participants in All of Us research program
T
ALL OF US UAB RESEARCH PROGRAM
he National Institutes of Health began enrolling participants in its groundbreaking new All of Us Research Program in 2018. Working with researchers, health providers, community organizations and universities, including The University of Alabama at Birmingham — the NIH hopes to eventually have at least one million Americans volunteer to take part in All of Us, in which participants share their personal health information to help create one of the largest, most diverse health databases in history. Scientists will use this data to learn how our biology, lifestyle and environment affect us and to find new and better ways to treat and prevent disease. They also hope to find ways to better customize medical diagnosis and treatment for individual patients. Researchers at The University of Alabama at Birmingham are playing a big role in All of Us. UAB leads the All of Us Southern Network, composed of more than 10 sites in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Dr. Bruce Korf, chief genomics officer of UAB Medicine and the associate dean for Genomic Medicine, is the contact principal investigator for the Southern Network. Dr. Korf calls All of Us “a unique opportunity to influence medicine for a long time into the future.” The program is designed “to generate the data to understand risk factors for disease and outcomes for a diverse population over a period of time, and from that will come new insights for prevention, diagnosis and treatment,” he said. A program like All of Us would not be nearly as effective without the tremendous advances in recent decades in the speed and capacity of genetic and genomic research. Genomics refers to the mapping of all the DNA in an organism. The All of Us research program holds out the “possibility of customizing prevention, diagnosis and the treatment of disease to the individual — taking into account what they are specifically at risk for and how they will respond to treatment,” Dr. Korf said. “This will inform precision medicine for generations to come.” Nearly 36,000 people have signed up for All of Us in the Southern Network so far, and more than 675,000 Americans have signed up nationwide. And UAB is continuing to seek new participants in the program. People who take part will answer surveys on different topics and be asked to share their electronic health record, give samples of blood and urine for lab and DNA tests. The health information that participants share with All of Us goes into a secure database. By participating in All of Us, people receive numerous benefits. First of all, like the researchers themselves, the participants get the chance to be part of a historic research program. “One of the major reasons they participate is because they want to be part of something important and meaningful that will benefit their families and future generations,” Dr. Korf said. Participants also receive “a rich return of value” because All of Us is using genomics, which includes genetic sequencing. They will have the chance to learn more about their ancestry and genetic traits, but researchers also look at “medically significant genes” in participants who opt into this analysis, Dr. Korf explained. These genes could point out risk for such conditions as cancer or heart disease. “Most people are not going to have a variant in one of those genes that put them at risk for disease, but if they do, they can be provided genetic counseling,” he said. “For a small proportion of people — about 3% — this can be life-changing and even life-saving.” The All of Us program reached a milestone in
DR. BRUCE KORF ► CALL: 833-JOIN-UAB ► EMAIL: allofus@uabmc.edu ► WEB: allofus.uabmedicine.org or joinallofus.org
December when the NIH began returning personalized health-related DNA results to more than 155,000 participants, with reports detailing whether participants have an increased risk for specific health conditions and how their body might process certain medications. For Dr. Korf, the return of the results to participants “was very exciting.” The wide diversity of All of Us participants is also very important to the project, Dr. Korf said. “Historically a lot of the research has been done on people of European ancestry, and we’ve learned a lot, but we’ve also learned that some of the things we found don't apply equally well to people of different ancestries,” he explained. “We want to provide medical care that is broadly applicable and available to people regardless of their background.” More than 50% of people enrolled in All of Us are from racial and ethnic minorities. “You’ve got to reach out to diverse communities if, in the long run, you want to serve diverse communities,” he said. The success of the All of Us research program also “requires building trust in communities that historically may have had good reason not to be trustful.”
According to Dr. Korf, community engagement has always been a “cornerstone” of All of Us. However, community engagement “does not mean selling the community on the program,” he said. “It’s learning what’s important to the community and making sure that what you’re doing is sensitive to their needs.” Community members have been part of All of Us from the beginning and people from diverse communities take part in the leadership groups. As part of this effort to reach as many people as possible, the All of Us Southern Network has several enrollment sites in Alabama. Last spring, All of Us opened a new site in Dothan, an area which was previously not well-served by the program, Dr. Korf said. They also have a mobile unit that travels the state, including areas with poor internet access. “It brings All of Us to people wherever they may be and offers us a chance to involve people who might not otherwise have the opportunity,” Dr. Korf said. The lofty goal to enroll at least one million participants in All of Us nationwide is still in reach, despite delays caused by COVID-19, he said. With the slowing of the pandemic, All of Us is back in “a rapid enrollment phase,” Dr. Korf affirmed. “It’s clear that the goal of at least 1 million participants will be reached.” U.S. residents ages 18 and older can join the All of Us program. For details, call 833-JOIN-UAB or go to allofus.uabmedicine.org or joinallofus.org.
2024 SPRING MEDICAL GUIDE
VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • B5
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
There’s Power in All of Us We're all different, but when we visit the doctor, our treatments are often the same. We think one day health care should be tailored for you. The more researchers know about what makes each of us unique, the more tailored our health care can become. Join a research effort with one million or more people nationwide to create a healthier future for all of us.
Get started.
To start your journey, go to Participant.JoinAllofUs.org and
$25
gift c
ard
1 Create an account 2 Give your consent
3 Agree to share your electronic health records 4 Complete the Consent to Get DNA Results 5 Answer health surveys 6 Have your measurements taken
Visit allofus.uabmedicine.org or download the All of Us app to get started on your journey. Apple App Store
Google Play
To learn more and to enroll, contact us at: allofus@uabmc.edu | (833) JOIN-UAB | allofus.uabmedicine.org All of Us and the All of Us logo are registered service marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
(height, weight, blood pressure, etc.) and give blood and urine samples, if asked
After completing these steps, you’ll receive $25.
2024 SPRING MEDICAL GUIDE
B6 • February 2024
Village Living
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Helping people achieve their healthiest skin GUNN DERMATOLOGY At Gunn Dermatology, Dr. Holly Gunn and her dedicated staff offer full-body dermatological and cosmetic care at two convenient locations in Mountain Brook. “We treat you as a whole person with realistic, long-term goals to achieve your healthiest skin,” Dr. Gunn says. At both facilities, Dr. Gunn and her staff provide great medical care in a luxurious environment, and they offer virtually any service or treatment a patient could possibly need. Gunn Dermatology provides cosmetic and surgical procedures, head-to-toe skin exams and acne treatments, as well as basal cell and skin cancer removals, including safe, effective non-surgical techniques. A full-service wellness center, Gunn Dermatology offers cryotherapy, infrared sauna sessions, spray tans and many other services. The staff performs treatments to make the skin healthier and stronger while removing signs of aging and discoloration. They also treat their patients like family, and the patients think of Gunn Dermatology as their home away from home. “We love our patients,” Dr. Gunn says. “We are just here to serve.” The team at Gunn Dermatology is always on the lookout for new technology to help their patients. For example, they are excited about the Vivace Ultra device, which can be used on any area of the body that a patient wants to tighten, tone or contour. With the precise individualized settings from the ultrasound, patients are seeing great results. An accredited, board-certified dermatologist with 15 years of experience, Dr. Gunn attended medical school at The University of South Alabama and completed her dermatology training at Pennsylvania State University.
► CRESTLINE VILLAGE: 32 Church St. ► LANE PARKE: 391 Rele St. ► CALL: 205-415-7536 ► WEB: gunndermatology.com
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. Dr. Gunn opened the original location of Gunn Dermatology in 2020 in Crestline Village. In 2022, she opened her second location at Lane Parke in Mountain Brook Village. “We seek to provide the best care in the community through our innovative technology, knowledgeable staff and our comfortable, friendly atmosphere,” Dr. Gunn says. Dr. Gunn lives in Old Mountain Brook with her husband, Dr. Stephen Gunn, a plastic surgeon, and their four young daughters, and they enjoy living in Mountain Brook. “We love the community, and we love that our kids are so supported by other parents and teachers and the community at large,” Dr. Gunn says. Overall, Mountain Brook has been a great place to run a business, she says. “The community is so supportive of small businesses and small-business owners,” she says. Running her practice has been very rewarding for Dr. Gunn, who says that she has “always been kind of a natural caregiver. “It brings me so much joy when people come to me with a problem I know how to fix or improve,” she says.
DR. HOLLY GUNN
Spring has sprung early at Gunn Dermatology
Dr. Holly Gunn and the team at Gunn Dermatology offer medical, pediatric, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. Schedule a medical visit or cosmetic consult with us to see what all we can do for you!
Follow us on Instagram for our Spring Specials SCAN TO FOLLOW @gunndermatology
32 Church Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213 391 Rele Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35223
205.415.7536 | gunndermatology.com
VillageLivingOnline.com
2024 SPRING MEDICAL GUIDE
February 2024 • B7
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Medicare doesn’t have to be stressful — let Medicare Advisors of Alabama help MEDICARE ADVISORS OF ALABAMA
ERIC SMITH, OWNER
Q: Who is Medicare Advisors of Alabama? A: We are a locally owned insurance agency that specializes in helping Alabamians better understand Medicare. Medicare is overwhelming, but once someone with patience and knowledge teaches you the questions to ask and then guides you through the process, the whole thing becomes much less stressful. That’s what we provide: a stress-free Medicare experience. Q: What does your service cost? A: Our service is absolutely free. We’re only paid by insurance companies if we help you enroll in a plan. Our reputation has been built on word of mouth and living the Golden Rule. Let us prove it to you. Q: Why does someone need a broker/adviser? A: There are so many advertisements and plans available that it’s becoming almost impossible to sort everything out on your own. A good broker will help you see the positives and negatives of the plans and will work to find the best solution for their client and not the insurance company. Q: When does someone need to help me with Medicare? A: If you’re turning 65 years of age, you have a seven-month window to enroll in Medicare. It’s also when our team can really help you understand your options. However, if you are still working, you may not want or need to enroll. Deciding when to enroll and what to enroll in are our two most asked questions, and our team can help you make an informed decision. Q: What if I keep working past age 65? A: Many people think they’ll face penalties if
► WHERE: 2116 Columbiana Road ► CALL: 205-704-9020 ► WEB: medicareadvice.org
they don’t sign up for Medicare at 65. That can be true, but not always. You can postpone enrollment beyond age 65 if you or your spouse are still working and you have health insurance under an employer plan. Q: The Annual Enrollment Period ended Dec. 7. Is it too late to make changes? A: There are several different enrollment periods throughout the year. One overlooked enrollment period (Open Enrollment Period) runs from Jan. 1 through March 31. This period is for a person who needs to change their Medicare Advantage Plan or someone on a Medicare Advantage Plan but would like to return to Original Medicare. There are also many Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) throughout the year as well. Q: Where can I get help with Medicare? A: You can schedule a consultation with someone on our team. We can talk over the phone, meet virtually via Zoom, in-person at our local office, at your home, your business or even out at a coffee shop. We teach classes called “Prepare for Medicare” at our Vestavia office. We have lots of fun, and it’s very educational. No specific products are discussed, but it’s a great way to learn the basics of Medicare and get your questions answered. Call us to RSVP.
A better way to navigate Medicare If you are starting to think about retirement or are approaching age 65, you have probably begun trying to learn more about Medicare.
We know it can be confusing to sift through ALL the Medicare plan options and decide which one to choose. All the advertisers offer to give you advice, but they’re just trying to sell you a product.
Medicare Advisors of Alabama is different.
We are independent insurance brokers, which means we are not tied to any one insurance company. Our goal is to get to know YOU and learn about your specific healthcare needs. We are Medicare experts, and we would love to help you cut through the clutter and find the plan that works best for you!
Call 205.704.9020 or visit www.medicareadvice.org We offer FREE classes on how to Prepare for Medicare. Call us to RSVP for the next class in our Vestavia office at 2116 Columbiana Road.
Medicare Advisors of Alabama is an insurance agency based in Birmingham, AL and not a part of the federal government. We do not offer every plan available in our area and currently represent 55 out of 56 Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans and 21 out of 27 drug plans (Part D) along with many medigap plans. Contact Medicare.gov at 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all your options.
2024 SPRING MEDICAL GUIDE
B8 • February 2024
Village Living
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Birmingham’s family-owned, independent pharmacy since 1928 HARBIN DISCOUNT PHARMACY When you walk through the doors of your pharmacy, do the pharmacists say hello and call you by your name? If you’re a client at Harbin Discount Pharmacy, your answer is yes. “We have watched generations of children grow up and now have children of their own,” said Jerry Newman. “We truly care about each and every person that walks through our door.” Harbin Discount Pharmacy is a family-owned, independent pharmacy that has been a Birmingham institution since 1928. Its four pharmacists have been practicing for a combined total of 130 years. There are two locations: one in Crestline Village and one downtown near University of Alabama Birmingham. Because Harbin is a local pharmacy, it has a very comfortable and relaxed environment. The customers can feel free to ask questions and not feel like they are being rushed. The customers also have easy access to the pharmacist, both in person and over the phone. And since medications are compounded in house, the pharmacists are able to fully serve their customers in every aspect. The staff is committed to customer service, and Jerry said the delivery service is top notch. “Our customers appreciate that their medicines will be delivered in a timely manner and they do not have to get out if they
Dajialyn
Heart Transplant Survivor ► WHERE: 57 Church St. ► CALL: 205-871-2196 ► WEB: harbindiscount pharmacy.com
are sick or busy.” Customers can also feel good about shopping at Harbin and knowing they’re keeping their dollars local. Harbin gives back to the Mountain Brook community by sponsoring as many local youth and community activities as it can. “Did you know that when you spend your dollars at a local store, over 70 cents of every dollar spent stays in our community?” Jerry said. Harbin Discount Pharmacy is a very special place that is reminiscent of the mom and pop stores from a bygone era. Visit harbindiscountpharmacy.com for more information.
The path to mending her heart began LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED | Delivery | | Covered by Blue Cross and most insurance plans | | Complete line of health and beauty items | | Flu, Covid-19, and shingles vaccinations | | Compounding Lab |
Established 1954
Dajialyn was born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and at 3 months old was placed on the waiting list for a heart transplant. When her foster parents got the call to care for her, they never hesitated – and in July 2021, they received the call with the news she would get her new heart. Within hours she was at Children’s of Alabama in surgery. Her transplant was a success, and Dajialyn is walking, talking and doing all the things that keep parents of any toddler on their toes.
We discount the price, not the service Call or visit today 57 Church St. Mountain Brook | 205-871-2196 521 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd S. Birmingham | 205-323-2474
ChildrensAL.org/heart 1600 7TH AVE. S.
|
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233
harbindiscountpharmacy.com CV-0011_Heart_Month-Dajialyn_280-Living-Newsprint-4.75x15.57-PROD.indd 1
1/10/24 12:41 PM
VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • B9
The first procedure to provide simultaneous fat elimination and muscle building in a combined 30-min session. It is a non-invasive procedure that requires no recovery time or any pre-treatment preparation.
YFebruary Special! Purchase a package for 1 location and receive a free Alastin Transform and 20% off of any products purchased the day of the first treatment!
Call us today to set up your appointment to experience EMSCULTPT NEO! 205-580-1500 MEGAN CHERRY, MD KRISTY CURL, DO LAUREN HUGHEY, MD CAROLINE WILSON, CRNP SHELLEY WINZELER, PA-C TAYLOR HOLSOMBECK, CRNP ANN BEVELLE, AESTHETICIAN KAYLA FISHER, AESTHETICIAN
1651 Independence Ct. Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 580-1500 renewdermatology.net
B10 • February 2024
Village Living
Events
Mountain Brook events guide Feb. 10: AAA Concert Series — Alex Meixner. 1-2:30 p.m. Brookwood Baptist Church. A free concert featuring Alex Meixner, a nationally acclaimed musician, performer and band leader trained in classical, jazz and ethnic music. For free tickets, visit eventbrite.com. Feb. 13: Valentine’s Day Tablescapes. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Ireland Room. Enjoy a Valentine’s Day mimosa and a tablescape demonstration with Kathleen Varner, owner of Birmingham-based Petals and Props, then create a floral centerpiece for the Valentine’s Day table. Registration required. Members $100, non-members $110. bbgardens.org.
Feb. 23-24: Sweet Repeats Consignment Sale. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Mountain Brook Community Church. Come shop or register to sell your gently used children’s items at the spring consignment sale. All proceeds made will help fund Mountain Brook Community Church missions. For information on volunteering, shopping and registering as a consignor, visit mbcc.us/sweetrepeats.
Feb. 17: Annual Birmingham Camellia Show. 1-4 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Join the Birmingham Camellia Society for their annual show and competition. All Birmingham area residents are welcome to enter their camellia blooms, even if the plant variety is unknown. Bloom admission is from 8 to 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. bbgardens.org.
Thursdays: Tiny Makers In The Garden. 9-10 a.m. and 10:30-11:30 a.m. Ages 16 months to 3 years. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Exploration Classroom. This series is made up of five onehour, child-led art play groups where children are given the opportunity to explore and enjoy art with the help of their caregiver. Registration required. Members cost $125, non-members $150. bbgardens.org. Feb. 1: Portrait Photography Workshop. 3-4:30 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Southern Living Garden. This class will cover the basic principles and topics of portrait photography, including manual settings, lighting, posing and more. Registration is required. Members $45, nonmembers $52. bbgardens.org.
Feb. 25-26: Rise Against Hunger. Noon to 2 p.m. Canterbury United Methodist Church, Canterbury Hall. Volunteers assist with packing and distributing thousands of meals. To view and sign up for a time slot, visit canterburyumc.org/rise-against-hunger.
Feb. 6: Thyme to Read Book Club — “Birnam Wood.” 4:30-5:30 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Come join the monthly book club hosted by the Library at the Botanical Gardens. This month’s discussion will feature “Birnam Wood” by Eleanor Catton. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit bbgardens.org.
Feb. 25: Southern Tales 2024. 2:30-4 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Retelling of “A Sweet Strangeness Thrills My Heart: The Journal of Sallie Independence Foster, 1861–1887” with storyteller Dolores Hydock and musician Bobby Horton. Cost is $25 and registration is required. bbgardens.org.
Feb. 22: Friends of O’Neal Library Preview Party and Book Sale. 6-8 p.m. O’Neal Public Library. Get a preview before the book sale opens. The sale begins Feb. 23 at 10 a.m, and ends Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. oneallibrary.org.
love not
BUGS
If your pest problem gets too much to handle... Call The Best to Fight The Pest 205-663-4200 vulcantermite.com
VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • B11
O’Neal Library Calendar
Feb. 7: Game On. 3:30-5 p.m. Community Meeting Room. Video games, board games and card games galore. Feb. 21: Library Loot Book Club. 4-5 p.m. ADULTS
CHILDREN
Mondays: Beginner Sewing Classes. 4-5 p.m.
Tuesdays: Patty Cake — Lapsit Storytime. 9:309:50 a.m. and 10:30-10:50 a.m. Storytelling Room. Registration required.
Feb. 3: Great Short Stories — Matinee Movie: “Freaks.” 3 p.m. Feb. 4: Birmingham Arts Journal Reception for Winter Issue. 2 p.m.
Tuesdays: LOL Story Adventure. 3:30-4:15 p.m. Storytelling Room. Grades K-2.
Feb. 4: “The Funhouse” — An Under the Mountain Film Event. 7 p.m.
Wednesdays: Toddler Tales Storytime — Directed Movement. 9:30-9:50 a.m. and 10:30-10:50 a.m. Registration required.
Feb. 6: Gentle Yoga with Marie Blair. 10-11 a.m. Community Meeting Room. Bring a yoga mat and water. Registration required.
Wednesdays: Movers and Makers — Kindergarten Prep Storytime. 1:30-2:15 p.m. Storytelling Room. Registration required. Thursdays: All Together Storytime. 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. Community Meeting Room.
Feb. 10: Books in the Brook at the Park on Overton Road. 1-2 p.m. Valentine's crafting. Grades 3-6.
Feb. 1: SNaP — Game On. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Grades 3-6.
Feb. 12: Breakout Book Club — I am a Dinosaur!. 5-6 p.m. For emerging readers and their adults.
Feb. 2: Camp Half Blood After Hours Party. 6-8 p.m. Grades 3-6. Feb. 5: Reading Buddies. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Storytelling Room. Children are invited to practice reading aloud with a buddy. There will be teen volunteers through the Teen Advisory Board and trained dogs through Hand in Paw. Feb. 8: SNaP — Valentine’s Day Cards. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Grades 3-6. Feb. 8: Hot Off the Press Book Group. 6-7 p.m. Storytelling Room. Grades 4-6. Share a book you've enjoyed and get to know some of Ms. Morgan's latest favorites. Registration required. Feb. 9: Sensory Play, Explore and More. 9:30-11:45 a.m. Storytelling Room. Children will move through different sensory stations with their caregivers. Small groups from 9:30-10:15 a.m. and 10:30-11:15 a.m. Free play from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Registration required.
Feb. 15: SNaP — Movie and Popcorn. 3:30-5:10 p.m. Grades 3-6.
Feb. 6: The Bookies discuss "What You Are Looking For is in the Library” by Michiko Aoyama. 10-11:30 a.m. Conference Room. Registration required. Feb. 12: Great Short Stories. 6:30-7:30 p.m. “Spurs” by Tod Robbins. Feb. 27: Books and Beyond — Westerns. 6:30-8 p.m. Conference Room. You pick what you'd like to listen to, read or watch within the selected topic, then come tell us about it. Registration required.
Feb. 19: Illustrator Art Club — Art Inspired by David Ezra Stein. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Grades K-6. Feb. 22: SNaP — Book Bingo. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Grades 3-6. Feb. 29: SNaP — Leap Day Celebration. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Grades 3-6. TEENS Feb. 3: Life Hacks for Grades 9-12. 10 a.m. Chill baking with Chef Antonio. Feb. 5: Teen Advisory Board. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Conference Room. Registration required.
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B12 • February 2024
Village Living
Opinion Life Actually By Kari Kampakis
When your daughter doubts her beauty My daughter, at the ripe old age of 11, stared at her reflection in the mirror as I helped her prepare for an event. What she saw in the mirror isn’t what I saw in the mirror, much to my dismay. Out of the blue, she started critiquing herself. Naming and nitpicking every flaw. It broke my heart, but when I interrupted, telling her how beautiful she is, she got defensive and annoyed. No compliment could change her mind, and the more I talked, the more irritated she became. That’s when I realized my daughter has an internal battle she’ll wrestle with, like almost every female I know. She has a critic in her head who will sometimes cloud her thinking and distort her self-image. My instinct was to save her, to keep spurting affirmations and prove her analysis wrong, but since my talking made matters worse, I left it at this: “You are beautiful, and I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. I wish you could see the truth. My prayer for you is that you’ll learn to see yourself through God’s eyes,
because He loves you so much.” I learned this insight the hard way. You see, there was a night several years prior to this when I was bashing myself in front of a mirror, and my husband had to listen. We were getting ready for a date, and I was in a foul mood. I’d been working on deadlines and not taking care of myself, and my frustration came to a head as I stared in the mirror and tore myself apart. My husband, being the smart husband he is, told me, “You are beautiful. Why can’t you see that? There is nothing wrong with you. You’re an amazing woman, and I’m the luckiest guy to have you.” His flattery lingered for two seconds — but then it went in one ear and out the other. I refused to listen, and after a little more mental abuse, I noticed him staring at me. His eyes were sad as he got quiet and looked at me in a way that revealed how much it bothered him to hear me mistreat myself. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you,” he said. “I don’t know what else to say to convince you that you’re wrong.” Whoa. His words resonated, and it
felt like God speaking to me, telling me how much it pained Him to hear me insult what He’d created. Ironically, I was working on a book to tell teen girls about God’s extravagant love. Clearly some of the messages — you are God’s masterpiece; God loves you at maximum capacity even on your worst days; if you could see the way God looks at you, you’d never doubt your worth again — had yet to sink into my own heart. What I hoped to teach teenage girls was a message I needed myself. I want my children to know they’re beautiful because they’re made in God’s image. I want a healthy self-love that propels them to live their best life with confidence and courage. And while I’ll always affirm them and counter the critic in their head, I know my influence is limited. More critical than any dialogue I have with my girls is the dialogue they have with themselves. What they wrap their mind around and internalize as they stare into a mirror. I can’t make my daughters believe they’re beautiful. As my husband learned with me, it’s not that simple.
What I can do is speak truth and pray for God to open their heart to this truth. I can pray for wisdom and clarity, asking God to help my daughters see themselves through His eyes. Learning to embrace one’s beauty is a lifelong process. It’s often two steps forward and one step back. So whether it is your daughter who’s struggling with self-image or you, her ever-evolving mom, find hope through God, who gently leads us to self-acceptance and celebration of what He created. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four girls, author, speaker and blogger. Kari’s newest book, “More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive,” is now available on Amazon, Audible and everywhere books are sold. Kari’s bestselling other books — “Love Her Well,” “Liked” and “10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know” have been used widely across the country for small group studies. Join Kari on Facebook and Instagram, visit her blog at karikampakis.com, or find her on the Girl Mom Podcast.
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VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • B13
Sports The Metro South seventh grade, right, and eighth grade, far right, middle school football teams. Photos courtesy of Barry Stephenson.
2023 Metro South middle school football Players of the Year announced By KYLE PARMLEY Following the 2023 football season, the Metro South Players of the Year were recognized for their outstanding performances over the seventh and eighth grade football seasons. Terry Gillespie from Hewitt-Trussville was named the seventh grade Coach of the Year, while Liberty Park’s Brent Brizendine and Hewitt-Trussville’s Scott Bromley earned eighth grade Coach of the Year honors.
BERRY
► 7th: Jameer Hudson, Colton Spencer, Jakobie Bates, Crawford Portera ► 8th: Nicolas McKissic, Wyatt Baty, James Jones, JD Thompson
BRAGG
► 7th: Brooks Beasley, Grayson Burdette, Nathaniel McCloy, Evan Storey ► 8th: Urijah Casey, Cohen Corbell, Mark Moody, Luke Pruitt
BUMPUS
► 7th: Josiah Blair, Tyler Foran, Lake Hendricks, Phillip Maye ► 8th: Jerrell Anthony, Mario Gibbs, Rakaveon Goldsmith, Paxton Weatherly
CHELSEA
► 7th: Bryant Wisdom, Cole Carroll, Aiden Skoglund, Caaleb Thomas ► 8th: Hudson Picklesimer, TJ Spell, Noah Lee, Bronnor Sanders
CLAY-CHALKVILLE
HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE
► 7th: Jack Floyd, Hunter Futrell, Searcy Ellis, Daniel Williams ► 8th: CJ Davis, Deonta Pickett, Michael Ross, Tyler Wilson
HOMEWOOD
► 7th: Andrew Knight, Juda Nix, Mac Abernathy, Jakari Haynes ► 8th: Quincy McGhee, Reid Goldstein, Tate Burdeshaw, Marcus McGhee
LIBERTY PARK
► 7th: Markell Compton, Kaleb Martin, Kobe Booker, Kejuan Pryor ► 8th: Christian Bennett Richardson, Rodriquez Penn, Markell Stephens, Oshea Abercrombie
► 7th: William Dedmon, Caleb Hahn, Davis Heilbron, Grayson Roberts ► 8th: Braxton Hunt, Nick Smith, Finley Williams, Preston Deal
HELENA
► 7th: Braylon Cooley, Brooks Essig, Slade Wood, Sam Young ► 8th: Gray Anderson, Luke Carroll, Robinson Peer, Henry Singley
► 7th: Logan Wormington, Christian Grant, Kellen Schultz, Tra’Veon Salter ► 8th: Brayden Jackson, Emmanuel Compton, Will Tayloe, Maddox Johnson
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► 7th: Angelo Petelos, Sam Zanthos, Silas Allday, Eli Byars ► 8th: Brody Hughes, Clayton Cherry, Tucker Kelly, Eli Ervin
PIZITZ
► 7th: Karter Floyd, Hudson Cearlock, Noland Williamson, Riley Dodd ► 8th: Daniel Holmes, Hudson Mote, Charlie Allen, Lawson Manown
SIMMONS
► 7th: Briggs Patterson, Ian Maxwell, Harrison Swiney, Elijah Foster ► 8th: Jamal Jones, Andrew Thompson, Alex Frymark, Jordon Ward
THOMPSON
► 7th: Bralen Coleman, Isaiah Henley, Kingston Myers, Eli Ogles ► 8th: Whit Goodwin, Dedrick Kimbrough, Maleek Billingsley, Mehkii Billingsley Jason Watson contributed to this report.
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B14 • February 2024
Village Living
Left: Mountain Brook running back Cole Gamble (19) carries the ball in a game against Gardendale on Oct. 27, 2023, at Gardendale High School. Photo by James Nicholas. Right: Mountain Brook offensive lineman Watts Alexander (61) blocks Parker defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman (9) in a game at Spartan Stadium in Mountain Brook on Oct. 13, 2023. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
3 Spartans chosen for all-state football team By KYLE PARMLEY Following an 8-4 season in 2023, three Mountain Brook High School football players were named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A all-state team. Running back Cole Gamble and offensive lineman Watts Alexander were named to the first team, while linebacker William Grier McDuffie earned a selection on the second team. Gamble was named a first-team running back for the second consecutive year, after putting up another season of spectacular numbers. As the lead back for the Spartans, he piled up 2,671 all-purpose yards and scored 31 touchdowns, despite being the focal point of every opposing defense. He eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards and averaged 170 yards per game on the ground. Alexander, the Spartans’ senior left tackle, allowed a single sack on the year in 191 pass
attempts. He helped pave the way for that dominant running attack as well. McDuffie was one of the top tacklers in all of 6A, piling up 140 tackles on the year. He also added eight tackles for loss, five sacks and a pair of interceptions for a Mountain Brook defense that surrendered 17 points per contest. Mountain Brook advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 2023, beating Buckhorn in the first round and giving eventual state champion Clay-Chalkville a scare in the second round, as the Cougars held on for a 17-13 win. The Spartans posted a 5-1 record in Region 5 play, falling only to Parker, which claimed the region title. The Spartans also pitched three straight shutouts to begin region play in September. Mountain Brook faced four 7A teams in non-region action, beating two of them (James Clemens and Hoover).
The 2023 All-Over the Mountain flag football team. Photo courtesy of Scott Butler.
All-OTM flag football team named By KYLE PARMLEY Coaches from many of the local high school girls flag football teams put together an AllOver-the-Mountain team, recognizing the top players in the area for outstanding seasons. Vestavia Hills was the top team in the area, as the Rebels finished as the state runner-up in the Class 6A-7A division. Flag football has been offered the last three years as an emerging sport in the state. It will become fully sanctioned by the Alabama High School Athletic Association next fall, meaning a championship program will be in place and state titles recognized at the end of the season.
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VillageLivingOnline.com
February 2024 • B15
Mountain Brook cheerleaders lead the football team onto the field before a game between the Mountain Brook Spartans and the Woodlawn Colonels on Sept. 14, 2023, at Woodlawn Stadium. Photo by Richard Force.
Sports Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley
Where to for the Super 7?
AHSAA reclassification: Spartans remain in 6A By KYLE PARMLEY The Alabama High School Athletic Association released its new classifications for the next two school years on Dec. 18, following approval by the Central Board of Control. The AHSAA reclassifies its member schools every two years based on enrollment data for public and private schools across the state. The period announced will be in effect for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Class 7A contains the 32 largest schools in the state, while the other six classes have roughly twice that many schools in each one. Locally, Spain Park and Chelsea will drop from 7A to 6A, beginning next school year. Replacing them in football’s Region 3 will be Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa — which jumps from 6A to 7A — and Prattville. Hillcrest and Prattville will join a football region with Hewitt-Trussville, Hoover, Oak Mountain, Thompson, Vestavia Hills and Tuscaloosa County. Spain Park and Chelsea will be in Region 3 of 6A, with Benjamin Russell, Calera, Chilton County, Helena and Pelham. As a result of that shakeup, Homewood moves from Region 3 to Region 5, playing against the likes of Parker, Gardendale, Minor, Mortimer
Jordan, Jackson-Olin and Woodlawn. Mountain Brook remains in 6A as well and heads over to Region 6 with Clay-Chalkville, Huffman, Oxford, Pell City, Pinson Valley and Shades Valley. Briarwood will return to 5A after four years in 6A. The Lions will slot into Region 5 alongside John Carroll, Center Point, Corner, Carver-Birmingham, Hayden, Ramsay and Wenonah. The region and area alignments for other fall sports were released as well, including for volleyball, cross-country, flag football and swimming and diving. In 5A volleyball, John Carroll will be in Area 9 with Northside, Sipsey Valley and Wenonah. Briarwood will be in Area 8 with Central-Clay County, Shelby County and Sylacauga. Area 8 of 6A will contain Chelsea, Helena, Pelham and Spain Park. Homewood will headline Area 9 with Parker, Minor and Jackson-Olin. Mountain Brook will be in Area 10 with Huffman and Woodlawn. 7A volleyball will have a different look as well. Area 6 will consist of Hillcrest, Hoover, Oak Mountain, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County, while Area 7 will have Hewitt-Trussville, Vestavia Hills, Albertville, Grissom and Huntsville. The full data can be accessed at ahsaa.com.
There’s plenty to talk more than 47,000 people, about in high school footfirst hosted the Super 7 ball at the moment. in 2021. It is quite a bit We’re not far removed smaller than Jordan-Hare from the completion of Stadium in Auburn and the 2023 season, which Bryant-Denny Stadium saw Central-Phenix City in Tuscaloosa. That made dethrone Thompson for the atmosphere, at least the Class 7A state title and for the 6A and 7A games, Clay-Chalkville defeat pretty electric in my defending champion opinion. Saraland in a 6A game for So, that leads me to the the ages. question: Where should Parmley In the middle of Decemthe Super 7 be hosted each ber, the Alabama High School Athletic year? On one hand, there is something Association announced its reclassifica- unquantifiable about being able to play in tion and realignment for the following historic venues at Alabama and Auburn. two years. That news immediately sends But those stadiums just seem cavernous, coaches into a frenzy when it comes to even for the 6A and 7A games that bring attempting to fill their schedules. in the biggest crowds. There is also a change in the College This past season in Tuscaloosa, the Football Playoff structure that could have Super 7 drew a total of 43,014 fans, an effect on the future of the Super 7, the including 11,891 on the opening day, most high school football state championship of those for the 7A contest. Keep in mind, event. The CFP is expanding to 12 teams Bryant-Denny holds over 100,000 people. beginning next season, meaning there is a On the other hand, playing at a smaller realistic opportunity the University of Ala- venue would allow for a more exciting bama and Auburn University could host atmosphere. Think of the last quarterfia quarterfinal game some years. In those nal or semifinal playoff game you went years, there would be no way for the Super to, and how big it felt. Personally, I enjoy 7 to happen at those venues. The Tusca- that the most. loosa News reported the potential future Do you play it at Protective permaconflicts of that scenario in December. nently? Perhaps the Cramton Bowl in Right now, the Super 7 rotates between Montgomery should be considered. Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Birmingham Everyone has their own opinion, and it (Protective Stadium) in a contract that makes for great offseason fodder. runs through 2032. Will there be changes Let me know what you think by reaching made to the contract in order to ensure that out to me on Twitter at @KyleParmley or the Super 7 still has a solid venue each via email at kparmley@starnesmedia.com. season? I imagine so. Protective Stadium, which opened in Kyle Parmley is the sports editor at 2021 in downtown Birmingham and holds Starnes Media.
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