VillageLivingOnline.com
June 2013
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Village Living Volume 4 | Issue 3 | June 2013
State champs
neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook
A more walkable Mountain Brook Sidewalk Master Plan proceeds with Safe Routes to Schools, new phases
MBHS Girls Soccer, Girls Varsity Lacrosse and Girls Golf Teams brought home state championships in 2013. Find out more about their roads to the big win inside.
PARKS AND GREENSPACE EXISTING WALKWAYS AND TRAILS DESIGNED PHASES FUTURE PHASES
Sports page 24
Daddy’s little girls
In honor of Father’s Day, Craig Krawczyk shares what makes life with daughters Emily, Alice Kate and Margaret so special.
Mountain Brook Elementary students will soon have more sidewalks for walking to and from school. Photo by Caroline Drew.
Community page 10
Sponsors ......... 4 City ................... 5 Business .......... 6 Food ................. 8 Community ..... 9 Celebrations .. 17 School House.. 19 Sports ............. 24 Opinion ........... 26 Faith ................ 27 Calendar ........ 30
FUTURE PHASES
INSIDE 1. Montclair Road 2. Country Club Road 3. Balmoral Road 4. Pine Ridge Road 5. Montevallo Lane / Richmar Drive 6. Meadow Brook Lane 7. Cherry Street 8. Spring Street 9. Kennesaw Drive 10. Old Leeds Lane 11. Old Leeds Road
By MADOLINE MARKHAM facebook.com/VillageLiving
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For decades, sidewalks in Mountain Brook were built in a piecemeal fashion with no overarching plan. In the mid to late 1990s, that changed. The City introduced a new master plan that linked all neighborhoods to villages and schools and places of work to places to play. Since then, the Mountain
12. Brookwood Road 13. Crosshill Road 14. Old Overton Road 15. North Woodridge Road 16. Locksley Drive 17. Dunbarton Drive 18. Pump House Road
Brook Village Walkway System (MBVWS) has been bringing to life a vision to connect the City phase by phase. Phase 6 of 12 is now under construction, with at least two more phases funded and in the works. “The Master Plan will connect the community and make it more walkable, which helps people meet neighbors, walk instead of drive and make healthy decisions,” City
Manager Sam Gaston said. “It’s been well received here in the City.” The City is pursuing each phase as it is able to secure funding; there is no specific timeline for completing the master plan, according to Gaston. Safe Routes to Schools The next phase of the sidewalk master plan will enable elementary
students to more safely walk to Crestline and Mountain Brook Elementary Schools. Funded entirely by the U.S. government’s Safe Routes to Schools program, the project is scheduled to be bid out on June 28. According to Gaston, construction will start in early fall and take
See SIDEWALKS | page 29
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About Us Photo of the Month
Please Support our Sponsors Children participate in the Thomas Hughes Brinkley Memorial Fun Run as a part of the Emmet O’Neal Library Summer Reading Kick Off Festivities in May. Photo by Ivey Jackson.
A Tiny Kingdom (19) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (11, 25) Alabama Power (12) Always There, Inc. (10) Amy Smith (31) Andrea Carmichael, Inc. (28) Argent Antiques (27 ) Bates, Roberts, Fowlkes & Jackson Insurance (7) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (26) Birmingham Zoo (3)
Editor’s Note By Jennifer Gray This spring, my daughter played softball for the first time. It was a fun experience, and we had a really special group of kindergarten girls on the Blue Jays. One of those girls was Emily Krawczyk. Emily is full of smiles and energy, and her father, Craig Krawczyk, was our assistant coach. I remembered reading a blog post Craig wrote last June in honor of Father’s Day. In it he shared what it was like when he and his wife, Meg, found out shortly after Emily was born that she had Down syndrome — and how Emily has been an answer to a prayer for their family. When I read it, I made a note that it was something that really must be
shared with our readers for Father’s Day this year. Craig tells of watching his nephew play baseball some years ago on a team here in Mountain Brook with a boy who also had Down syndrome. Craig shared the excitement as the crowd cheered over the boy’s efforts on the field. Flash forward to this year, and it is my daughter playing on a team with a child with Down syndrome. It is our team who is cheering with all our might for Emily. And it is Emily who is teaching my daughter and the other girls on the Blue Jays about being loved and being celebrated. And yes, we all cheered loudly for Emily at our last game.
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Some say it takes a village to raise children. I am thankful to live in our village and thankful for the dads who coach, cheer their children on, miss work to go to Camp Alpine with their fifth graders, come to school plays and performances, help with homework, and teach their sons and daughters to make wise life choices. I am glad that my children have such a wonderful role model in their own father and in the fathers around them in the community, and on the softball field.
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Meet our summer intern Will Hightower is a rising sophomore at Auburn University. He is an accounting major with a passion for writing and is involved with many things on campus. He is a 2012 graduate of Mountain Brook High School, where he was involved in the student newspaper, Sword & Shield, and the Interact Club. At Auburn Will is involved in Student Government Association, Student Recruiters and his fraternity.
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Village Living Publisher : Creative Director : Editor : Managing Editor : Executive Editor: Advertising Manager: Sales and Distribution :
Dan Starnes Keith McCoy Jennifer Gray Madoline Markham Jeff Thompson Matthew Allen Rhonda Smith Warren Caldwell Keith Richardson Contributing Writers : Kari Kampakis Dale Wisley Nathan Kelly Megan Smith Interns : Caroline Drew Chandler Jones Will Hightower Published by : Village Living LLC
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School House Contributors : Catherine Bodnar- Cherokee Bend, Britt Redden- Crestline, Alison Taylor- Brookwood Forest, Suzanne Milligan- Mountain Brook High School, Hilary Ross- Mountain Brook Elem. , Elizabeth FarrarMountain Brook Jr. High Contributing Photographer: Image Arts
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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, faith, family and community events. Information in Village Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Village Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 370-0732 or by email.
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June 2013 • 5
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City Barlow discusses ‘What’s right’ with Mountain Brook Schools Dicky Barlow, superintendent of Mountain Brook Schools, addressed the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce on “What’s Right With Our Schools” at its quarterly luncheon in May. Barlow began by recognizing the Board of Education, principals, central office directors, teachers and parents who all work toward the mission to be effective, challenging and engaging for every student. “One great thing is our sense of collaboration and unity,” he said. “It’s not important to say ‘I’ but to say ‘we.’” Barlow also spoke of the city’s involvement with the schools, citing how Police Chief Ted Cook was in his office discussing how to make schools safer within an hour of receiving news of the Sandy Hook tragedy. There is now an additional school resource officer in the schools, and officers now patrol inside the schools and not just outside, Barlow said. Overall, Barlow concluded that there is not a formula for Mountain Brook Schools; they are what they are because of the community. During his talk, he spelled out many figures that showed just what is right with Mountain
Brook Schools:
ff Fifty-eight percent of the $47 million budget for
the schools comes from local revenue, a figure Barlow said is unheard of in the state. ff The Mountain Brook Schools Foundation has given away $5 million to schools for professional development, technology and libraries. ff Ninety-six percent of students met or exceeded early literacy standards. ff Ninety-seven percent of sixth to eighth graders passed math standards. ff Ninety-nine percent of fifth to seventh graders passed science standards. ff Last year the high school administered 986 AP tests, and 89 percent made a 3 or higher on a scale of 1-5. The high school offers 21 AP classes. ff This year the high school had a record 29 National Merit Finalists. ff The average ACT score for students is 26.7, a record high; 21.1 is the national average. ff The average SAT score for students is 1864; 1498 is the national average. ff Ninety-eight percent of graduates attend fouryear colleges and universities. ff MBHS has won 144 state sports championships, more than any other school in the state.
Crime report Piggly Wiggly Robbery A robbery occurred at the Piggly Wiggly on River Run Drive on Wednesday, April 24 at approximately 9 p.m. Two armed suspects entered the store and demanded money. They left the premises with an undetermined amount of money, and there were no injuries. Witnesses told police the suspects were a male and a female. A suspect was later identified and arrested. April 25-May 2 An unlawful breaking / entering of a vehicle
(Back row) Dicky Barlow, Lloyd Shelton, (front row) Mountain Brook Schools Foundation Director Anne Womack, Crestline Elementary Principal Laurie King and Chamber President Terry Chapman at the May Chamber luncheon.
City conducting business in new complex
case occurred in the 2600 block of Canterbury Road on April 26. Unknown suspect(s) stole lawn equipment from the victim’s unlocked vehicle. After an investigation, a suspect was identified and the property was recovered. May 3-9 A residential burglary occurred in the 3300 block of Brookwood Road on May 9. Unknown suspect(s) forced entry through a window at the rear of the residence. The amount of property stolen has yet to be determined.
All City offices have now moved into the recently completed Mountain Brook City Complex in Crestline Village. “It’s great to be back in Crestline Village,” City Manager Sam Gaston said. “We have even had people send flower arrangements and a cake to welcome us back. It’s been a pretty smooth transition.” The city will set a date for the building’s open house at a later time. Last month, the Mountain Brook City Council convened for the first time in its new chambers. For its first task in new seats, Council members listened to final presentations
from members of Leadership Mountain Brook. Although Council members indicated some concerns, at the meeting’s close several members voiced they were impressed with the thoroughness of the projects and supported the ideas. The Council agreed to consider funding all three in the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget. In other business, the Council: • Approved liquor licenses for eateries The Pantry and Tracy’s Restaurant. • Authorized the city to participate in Alabama’s 2013 Sales Tax Holiday Aug. 2-4.
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Around the Villages Steel City sells pops in Crestline Steel City Pops is now serving up popsicles in a new space behind The Pantry café and juice bar in Crestline. Steel City is located in the converted shed behind the main Pantry building, and picnic tables are available for customer seating. Pantry co-owner Lee Shipp said they will soon serve all the natural pop flavors available at Steel City’s Homewood location. Fruity flavors include blackberry, and blood orange. Creamy flavors are avocado, banana, buttermilk, chocolate, chocolate chili, coffee peanut butter and vanilla bean. The pop shop’s first location opened last summer in Homewood, and a second location opened last month at The Summit. Regular hours at the new location will be Mondays through Wednesday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday noon-6 p.m. The Pantry is located at 17 Dexter Ave. For more visit steelcitypops.com or call 803-3585.
Café Iz coming to English Village Vestavia’s Iz Café will open its second location in the former Joe Muggs space in English Village later this summer. The restaurant has been in Vestavia Hills for 13 years and is now bringing its soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods and more to Mountain Brook. Owner and president Kay Bruno Reed said she hopes to open the restaurant in late July or early August. Iz will for open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast menu features bacon, egg and cheese croissants; breakfast burritos; coffee drinks; muffins; and scones. At lunch and dinner, a pastry case will boast treats like chocolate roulade, banana cake, almond cake, key lime pie and lemon pie. Tuesday through Thursday, customers can order and pick up hot family meals at dinner time. A menu online lists seasonal meals available each day. Any day of the week, pre-prepared meals are available for pickup out of a refrigerated case. “This is a great little community we can become a part of,” Reed said. “We want to know people by name and find out what they want on the menu for take-home dinners. We operate more like a little family.” Café Iz will be located at 2037 Cahaba Road. For more visit everythingiz.com.
Local designer opens English Village jewelry showroom Theresa Bruno’s jewelry line is carried by more than 70 stylists across the world, and it is now available in her hometown. Her Jordan Alexander Jewelry showroom opened in English Village in May. “I tell everybody that no matter where I go in the world, I’m very proud to be a southerner and proud to have my southern roots,” Bruno said. “I wanted to be able to bring some of the manufacturing for this business to my hometown so that it would have a positive economic impact.” Bruno began designing jewelry for herself just four years ago when she couldn’t find the “look” she said she was searching for. She wanted pieces that were funky and gorgeous, as lovely as the pearls her mother once wore yet hip enough to be worn every day. Friends would comment on her jewelry, and she was quickly approached by a major New York City showroom to carry the line. Her pieces have been worn by everyone from First Lady Michelle Obama to dozens of A-list celebrities like Julia Roberts and Katie Couric. In addition, the line has been photographed and covered by almost every major magazine, including Oprah, Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily and Southern Living. The English Village showroom will carry many of the pieces that have positioned her as a major influence in the fashion industry, including her 52-inch tripleknotted pearl necklaces in every color palate. The store is located at 2003 Cahaba Road, Suite 101. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more call 868-1391 or visit jordanalexanderjewelry.com.
Bongiorno celebrates 25 years Owner Giuseppe “Joe” Magnolia moved to the U.S. from Palermo, Sicily in the 1970s. He turned out some of his old-country Italian favorites in New York City before moving to Birmingham in 1977 in search of a warmer climate. He opened Roma in Roebuck before opening his Crestline establishment in 1988. Bongiorno is located at 68A Church St. For more call 879-5947 or visit bongiornoitalianrestaurant.com.
ChamberChat Jesse Vogtle
As a part of a new monthly column, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Board member Jesse Vogtle told us about what’s new with local businesses and more. Vogtle is a partner at Balch & Bingham and City Council member. Tell us about your recent and upcoming events. We sold out our most recent Chamber luncheon in May, which featured Dicky Barlow talking on “What’s right with our schools.” Our next luncheon will be held July 11 at Parke Lane in English Village. We are also looking forward to the USGA Mid-Am Championship Oct. 5-10 at the Country Club of Birmingham. What is one of your favorite Mountain Brook businesses? My favorite business in Mountain Brook is the fullservice Shell station in Crestline Village. Jack and his team are always there to help with a flat tire, a battery jump or changing the wheel bearings on my 17 year old’s old pickup truck. Jack has sent folks to my house on many occasions to help with broken cars. It’s a real value added business. Why do you buy local? Supporting your friends and local tax base helps fund our City’s budget and school system, not to mention the convenience. Why did you get involved with the Chamber? Mountain Brook is a wonderful place with unique retail experiences surrounded by residential neighborhoods and parks. I’m proud to support Suzan Doidge’s efforts to market our villages.
June 2013 • 7
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Town and Country Clothes
Business Spotlight 74 Church St. 871-7909 Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. townandcountryclothes.com
By MEGAN SMITH With 70 years in business, Town and Country Clothes must be doing something right. Owner Lauren Basset is dedicated to helping her patrons find their own individual style, providing them with a variety of clothing lines and even creating her own custom jewelry for the store. She understands that by including multiple styles and fashions, she gives her customers a freedom they might not find another place. “I think it’s nice to have a one-ofa-kind piece and have more variety,” Bassett said. “People can really choose their style here.” One popular line, Sympli, has an extensive selection of basics as well as unique jackets and tops that can all be cut to order for a customer’s preferred style, color and size. Truly committed to working to find just the right look for a customer, Bassett goes beyond providing typical simple fashion advice. Staff of Town and Country Clothes uses a computer program that keeps a record of the size, color and style of previous purchases from the store. This proactive system allows customers to coordinate new outfits into their existing wardrobes. “We know our customers, and they know us,” Bassett said. “We’re going to be honest with them if something isn’t right for them. We won’t let them leave with something they won’t be
Staff member Sloan Bashinsky with customer Lulu Abernathy, and owner Laurel Basset
happy with later.” Basset took over Town and Country Clothes in 2009, and in addition to keeping the tradition of devoted customer service alive, she has also looked to improve the store where she can. Notably, Bassett worked to give the store a fresh look, with projects such as having the outside repainted. Additionally, she has worked to stock items for younger clientele. Keeping the price point between
$50 and $150 is important for Bassett. Popular items include Renuar blouses starting at $74 and Baggallini purses starting at $60. “We want to provide quality without a price that is prohibitive to a lot of people,” Bassett said. Basset’s attention to quality reaches beyond the scope of the store and into the realm of manufacturing. How the clothes are made carries just as much weight as the clothes’ appearance. For
example, Sympli is sewn by women in Canada, and Art of Cloth (another popular brand) is hand dyed in Ohio. “Many mass merchants have been caught using sweat shops,” she said. “We don’t want to support that.” Now in its 70th year, Bassett said the store has built a comfortable relationship with customers. The small-town vibe of Crestline helps provide a personal feel to the shopping experience, which is relaxing and
familiar to patrons. Bassett makes sure to keep enough staff scheduled in order to ensure one-on-one customer service. She explains how this guarantees shoppers that their trips to the store will not be wasted; they are certain to find just the item they were looking to add to their wardrobes. Bassett writes a blog on the store’s website townandcountryclothes.com to keep customers updated with new seasonal trends.
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Restaurant Showcase
Village Living Read past Restaurant Showcases at villagelivingonline.com
Taziki’s
2737 U.S. 280 South Mountain Brook Plaza 870-0455 tazikiscafe.com Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
By REBECCA WALDEN When Keith Richards and his wife, Amy, returned from a three-week holiday across the Greek islands, Keith channeled his newfound passion for the flavors, culture and vibe of Greece into a new restaurant concept. What they thought was just a touristy adventure across the pond – a trip they took on a shoestring budget thanks to Amy’s perks as a US Airways employee – instead became their American Dream realized. And today we have Taziki’s as evidence. “We really had no agenda when we landed,” Richards said. “We just rented a mo-ped, drove around and ate at the local gyro stands. We’d grab a bottle of wine, feta cheese and just sit and watch the sunset.” Richards said they met a couple who owned a nearby restaurant, and he and Amy ate there several times. Richards loved what the couple was doing with the lamb, and it became an inspiration for him. After their return stateside, Keith and Amy started discussing in earnest the possibility of launching their own business. Most importantly, they backed up that talk with action. Guided by Amy with assistance from her mom, they completed extensive research and recipe testing.
Keith Richards and his wife, Amy, opened their first Taziki’s in 1998.
Prior to the launch of Taziki’s, Keith had worked for nearly a decade under Frank Stitt as manager of Bottega Café. When Keith shared the Taziki’s plan with his longtime employer, he found resounding support. “He was really proud of me,” Richards said. “He told me, ‘The way you work, I wouldn’t be surprised if I see 100 Taziki’s.’” In 1998, Keith and Amy opened their first store at the Colonnade off of Highway 280. “This was before the Mediterranean
Taziki’s Mediterrean Salad, pictured with lamb, is topped with roasted red peppers, pecans, feta cheese, red onions and balsamic vinaigrette.
kick was coming out,” Richards said. “The town was flooded with new concepts and the market was oversaturated with different stores, but we did have something different. We were offering white tablecloth food without the white tablecloth price.” When researching the name, Keith and Amy poured over the prints from the 30 rolls of film they filled while abroad. When Keith found a picture of his bride pointing to a menu board that read “Tzatziki,” they knew they’d found their name.
New Laurel Bassett “Southern Shorelines” Jewelry Collection available at
74 Church Street in Crestline Village • 871-7909 www.townandcountryclothes.com
“We chopped it up and Americanized the spelling so we rednecks could pronounce it,” he said. Interesting side note: Each piece of artwork you see in Taziki’s restaurants is a personal shot captured by Keith during the couple’s threeweek sojourn. Today, Taziki’s has increased its footprint to include more than 20 stores in the Southeast. To other would-be entrepreneurs, Keith’s advice is simple: “Do a lot of research, and follow
what you think God’s plan is for you. The restaurant business is the hardest business to get into. If someone wants to get in the business, they can come to work for me first and see how they like it. I get a lot of kids that come in through the culinary schools, and they come in, work for me and find out it’s not what they had planned. “You have to know the answer to this question: What are you going to be able to give the people that they are not getting now?” Taziki’s Friday Special, anyone?
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Community Twilight in the city
Meg McCalley, Mary Pat Rodrugues, Sarah Hayden Logan, Anne Douglass Williams, Mary Keller Greene and Mary Lee Livingston.
The 2013 Twilight Ball was held in April at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. Presentees were sophomore girls from Mountain Brook. A seated dinner preceded the presentation of the girls and their escorts. Tall glass vases filled with branches and glistening stars graced tables set with midnight
blue table linens. Lighted stars and shimmering blue letters spelling “twilight” formed an archway over the stage. Following the presentation, honorees and their guests enjoyed dancing to the music of TwentyForSeven. Co-chairs of the event were Carolyn Greene, Susan Logan and Marcie Rodrigues.
Scouts receive Arrow of Light
Front row: Henry Pfitzer, Mac Scott, Alex Stokes, Austin De La Torre, Tate Record, William Wood, Jack Bell, Everett Cross, James Shepherd, Wills Black, Beau Liscomb. Second row: Willy Hurley, Reid Till, Fletcher Thomas, Paul Tierney, Griffin Darden, Taylor Pankey, Henry Skinner. Back row: Assistant Leaders Lee Hurley, David Darden, John Thomas, Copeland Wood, Graham Black.
Eighteen Boy Scouts in Pack 63, Den 4 recently received their Arrow of Light badges.
The scouts are students at Crestline and Cherokee Bend Elementary Schools.
Perry family reunion
Pattie Perry Robison Finney, Augusta Faull Forbes, Ann Marshall Oliver, Betty Timberlake Knight, Helen Morris Simmons and Chollet Perry Still. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hubbard.
Earlier this year, more than 250 descendants of the 14 children of Maj. Sam Perry and his wife Elizabeth Barker Williams attended a brunch at the Country Club of Birmingham for a family reunion. Many of the family members are Mountain Brook residents. Guests came from Tennessee, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina,
Georgia and Florida. On the reunion committee were Augusta Faull Forbes, Anne Marshall Oliver, Betty Timberlake Knight, Chollet Perry Still, Pattie Perry Robinson Finney, Bee Newman Morris, Rebecca Bowers Cooper, Helen Morris Simmons, Margaret Finney Billingsley and Elizabeth Knight Hubbard.
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Village Living
Our family’s perfect gift
A reflection on fatherhood By CRAIG KRAWCZYK One spring Saturday a few years before our daughter Emily was born, my wife Meg and I went to watch our nephew, Parker, play T-ball. We already had one child, Margaret, who was probably several months old at the time. Having our second child was probably not yet on our minds, but this game would prove to be an important event in the future of our family. Watching Parker hit and run the bases was exciting, but he wasn’t the one who ended up stealing the day. It would be a boy on the opposing team, a boy a lot smaller and a little more uncoordinated than all the others playing on the field. Every time he came up to the plate, he awkwardly fumbled around with his helmet and struggled to lift the bat. After several missed attempts at the ball sitting on that tee, this boy made contact, hitting the ball several monumental feet. With the largest smile you have ever seen, this boy looked up with surprise, dropped his bat and ran his heart out to first base. You couldn’t help but notice the cheers for him were louder and more prolonged than for any of the other kids. He finally reached first base, grinning from ear to ear. I remember watching in awe of his determination and his joy each time he came up to the plate. I remember thinking to myself how lucky his parents are to get to be with him every day. I remember very clearly
Craig Krawczyk with his daughters Emily, Alice Kate and Margaret.
saying to God that day, “I want a child like that.” That special Saturday came and went. I never mentioned to Meg anything about what I was thinking and feeling watching that boy play. To this day, I have no idea what his name was or who his parents are. I just know that he was put there that day for me to make this wish, a wish that I had forgotten until February 2007.
The alarm clock had gone off well before sunrise. It was time to go to the hospital and have a baby. I remember Meg and I both being very quiet that morning. It was almost like we both had a sense of what was about to happen, but neither wanted to say anything about it. The pregnancy had been pretty typical, and our final ultrasound had been normal. Moments after Emily was born, the doctor said she looked perfect,
congratulated us and handed our new baby over to the nurses for her first physical. Meg and I still didn’t really say a word to each other during the first 10 or 15 minutes of her life. It was like we were both waiting for the news. After her physical and first bath, the nurses handed Emily to Meg and said she could hold her for a moment but they would have to take her to NICU to have some tests
done. At that moment, I thought of a 4D ultrasound image that to me had looked a lot like a baby with Down syndrome. I thought of the strangely quiet morning. I remembered that Saturday T-ball game. While Meg was naturally concerned about what could be wrong, I felt a comforting peace come over me. I was almost certain what they were going to tell us. I don’t know how long they had Emily out of the room, but it seemed like hours. A doctor and nurse finally came in to tell us the news. Our new baby had Down syndrome. The medical people in the room seemed surprised that Meg and I were not very surprised by this news. They handed us our new baby and a book about Down syndrome and left the room. Those first few days and weeks were a happy time for our family (Nobody else knew of my secret wish yet). I remember telling people, “We have a healthy, happy, new baby girl. The only difference is she has an extra chromosome, no big deal.” I remember telling the ministers who came to visit us from church that we felt so lucky that God had chosen us to be her parents. In those first days, I finally told Meg of the T-ball game, of my thoughts during the ultrasound and of my feelings that whole morning Emily came into this world. Now, five years later, Emily is one of the most amazing people I have ever known and is truly our family’s
See GIFT | next page
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GIFT
from pg 10 greatest blessing. She is determined to try and do anything her sisters can do. Some things she even does better than her sisters. Emily’s only real challenge is a speech delay. She works hard with her speech and is determined about that as well. We are encouraged and are noticing great progress each week that goes by. Emily is a shining example of how to live each day, always smiling, always happy and always full of enthusiasm. We try to include her in as many typical experiences she can handle. She takes ballet and goes to gymnastics camp. Emily is probably most at home at the swimming pool where she can be seen taking her time to jump off the diving board while a huge line of kids encourages her from behind. She entered kindergarten on time with her age group but this fall will repeat kindergarten to build on the great progress she has made before entering first grade. She fits right in with her classmates and has never met anyone she doesn’t like. The more you get to know her, the more you realize, she is just like everyone else. Last year, we had the opportunity to sign Emily up for T-ball, coming full circle with my other T-ball experience. All season long, Meg and I talked about how we hoped Emily playing would inspire people like that boy inspired me. And just like that boy, Emily eagerly awaited her turn to take a swing at that ball. And just like that boy, she ran to first base with the proudest smile you have ever seen. Editor’s Note: This essay was excerpted from a blog entry Craig wrote on livedesignplay.com.
Breaking the cycle
Businessman pens book on his journey out of poverty
By RICK WATSON
Lester Nuby Jr. wrote a book about breaking generational poverty. Photo by Rick Watson.
Lester Nuby Jr. was born in a run-down house on Bell Springs Mountain near Falkville, Ala., but he made a decision at an early age that he would break free of the bondage of poverty. And indeed he did. He had climbed the ladder to corporate leadership by age 34. It’s this journey that he details in a new book, First, Breaking Generational Poverty. Around the age of 7, Nuby started giving a great deal of thought to what he later described as his personalized formula for success, a formula he said he’s refined through the years. He met his future wife Jacqueline at Falkville High School. “I told myself that one day I would marry her,” said Nuby. And in 1960, he did. He landed an entry-level job with Associated Grocers after high school but received his draft notice from Uncle Sam in 1962. Some people complained about military service, but he used the experience to refine his success formula. “The key ingredients of my formula are passion, desire, drive and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get ahead,” he said. His work ethic and approach to his job made it easy for him to move up through the ranks, and had the U.S. Army had its way, he would have gone to officer candidate school and made a career in the military. But he missed home and had other plans for his life, so he headed back to Alabama.
Nuby returned to his job at Associated Grocers once he arrived back home. “I was a little disappointed they put me back in the warehouse loading boxcars. All the people I’d worked with prior to being drafted had moved up,” he remembered. But Nuby worked even harder, and soon he was on the road to success. He ended up in positions that included president, CEO and chairman of the board. Then in 2008, he began to take a hard look at his life. His three children had given him four grandchildren, and they were growing up fast. His job was keeping him away from home too much. “I was flying 10,000 miles a year, and I realized life was passing me by,” he said. It was then he decided to walk away and look for a new challenge, but one that would allow him to stay close to home. While working, he found himself writing presentations, annual reports and stockholder correspondence. So when it came time for a new challenge, he chose to become a writer. He knew there was much to learn to write well, so he dusted off his success formula and dove in. Since then, he’s completed four books, one of which is a children’s book. He plans to release his other books within the next two years. Nuby is in the process of setting up book signings in and around Birmingham. His book is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and from his LesterNuby.com.
12 • June 2013
Village Living
Summer Fun Photo Contest
Capture the fun of summer with your camera, and send us your favorite shots of the backyard, lake, beach, mountain, neighborhood, and wherever you and your family are. Our staff will choose the images that most colorfully capture a summer experience. Prizes will be awarded to contest winners. Category One: Any summer fun photo Category Two: A summer fun photo displaying a copy of Village Living wherever you are To enter, email your photos in a jpeg format to photos@villagelivingonline.com. Please send high quality images and include a caption and photo credit. Only four entry photos are allowed per person.
Village Living Deadline for entries is August 1, 2013. We will publish the winners in the September issue as well as post them on our Facebook page and VillageLivingOnline.com
June 2013 • 13
VillageLivingOnline.com
On the big screen
Model-turned-screenwriter’s first films are in production
Mountain Brook resident Lauren Damrich onset for the filming of one of her screenplays.
By MEGAN SMITH Former model Lauren S. Damrich was told by a high school teacher that she should stick to modeling because college wasn’t for everyone. So, she didn’t go. Instead, she chose to focus on raising her two children, Russel Springer, 16, and Julia Springer, 14, in Mountain Brook. Teachers’ words have the ability to destroy a child’s dreams and how they see themselves, the Mountain Brook High School alumna said. “He probably forgot about it later that day,” Damrich said, “but it molded me and how I viewed myself
Casper Van Dean, center, stars in the production of Damrich’s screenplay “11 Seconds.” Van Dean’s character has been arrested for a hit and run and is in jail waiting for his bail to be posted.
and my abilities.” Damrich has always enjoyed writing poetry and songs, but never realized she could do anything with it — until a few years ago when a friend read her writing, gave positive feedback and introduced her to Final Draft, a screenwriting software. With the motivation to write, Damrich set out to achieve her dreams. “You just need that one person who believes in you and gives you the chance to do what you were meant to do,” Damrich said. That person for Damrich was producer Tom Sanders, whom she met in Los Angeles with Julia for
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her acting pursuits (Julia played Olivia Copeland, Patrick Dempsey’s character’s daughter, in the film Valentine’s Day). Just by meeting her, Sanders said he could see how much potential creativity Damrich possessed. “Sometimes you meet someone, and it’s like you were guided by divine intervention,” Sanders said. Sanders produces movies with content that makes audiences contemplate their decisions and make better choices. Damrich only writes what she is passionate about. Their pair fit like puzzle pieces. “I was able to get her to tell the
story she has in her,” Sanders said, “and I can share her story with an audience and it can affect their lives.” A few rewrites and tweaks later, her first screenplay “11 Seconds” is in production. The film is about a lawyer who, while distracted by a cell phone, strikes a 6-year-old cancer survivor with his car. Casper Van Dien and wife Catherine Oxenberg will star in the film. Christian comedian Brad Stine, Christian singer Jaci Velasquez and Congressman Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee are a few big names making appearances in the film. “It’s exciting to think that my
words are being filmed by actors,” Damrich said. Another screenplay by Damrich, “A Normal Life” started filming in April. The film will tell the story of autistic child who learns to communicate with a baby eagle. The U.S. government oversaw the film’s writing and production to protect the eaglet used in filming. Proceeds from the film will go to autism awareness. Damrich said she is still looking for a production company for the gem of her creativity — two seasons of a show called “Last Queen of the Gods,” a historical drama involving Cleopatra.
14 • June 2013
Village Living
Summer fun
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. Photo courtesy Ruffner Mountain.
By MOLLIE BARTHOLEMEW Summer is upon us. Hitting the pool and playing around the neighborhood are great, but it’s also fun to get outside Mountain Brook for a new adventure. We’ve compiled a list of things to do just a short drive away, some outdoor and some indoor, some close by and some a little further away. I’ve tried them all out with my family and recommend each and every one. You’ll also find contact information as well as the driving distance and time from Mountain Brook Village to help you plan your trip.
Village Living Sales Manager Matthew Allen tries out the new Beanstalk Forest at Red Mountain Park.
Outdoor Fun
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
Red Mountain Park
12 miles, 20 minutes Enjoy miles of tranquil forest-covered trails as well as heart-pumping ridgeline trails. The new architecturally “green” Treehouse Visitor Center boasts a woodland animal exhibit, and the Back porch is a perfect place for a family picnic. • For the GPS: 1214 81st St. S., Birmingham, AL 35206 Visit ruffnermountain.org or call 833-8264.
8 miles, 15 minutes Birmingham’s newest green space offers 10 miles of hiking trails, bike the seven miles of mountain biking trails or walk the two miles of flat trails. The Tree House at the top of the ridge is a favorite for kids of all ages! For those with older kids seeking more adventure, a thrilling zipline tour through the canopy of trees or the new the Beanstalk Forest adventure will please even the least outdoorsy family member. • For the GPS: 277 Lyon Lane, Birmingham, AL 35211 Visit redmountainpark.org or call 202-6043.
Moss Rock Preserve and Waterfalls 11 miles, 20 minutes Spend a morning hiking the 10 miles of trails at
Moss Rock Preserve. The trails will whisk you past two cascading waterfalls and through a unique and historic boulder field. These huge rocks were once used by Native Americans as campsites, and today are popular for bouldering and rock climbing. The rocks are also a wonderland for kids; the rock tunnels are a great for a game of hide and seek. • For the GPS: 617 Preserve Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35226 Visit exploresouthernhistory.com/mossrock.html.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park 31 miles, 40 minutes Discover how Birmingham’s iron industry began on these 1,500 acres through blacksmith
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around town
June 2013 • 15
Displays at the Southern Museum of Flight. Photo courtesy of Southern Museum of Flight.
demonstrations held at Tannehill on the weekends. A mini train also chugs one mile up to Farley Field. Many of the hiking trails available today were used by Confederate troops during the Civil War and are some of the most beautiful sections of the park. Skip rocks in the creek or even bring a fishing pole, as the creek is stocked with Rainbow Trout. Wrap up your visit with something delicious at the Sweet Shoppe for the short ride home. • For the GPS: 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, AL 35111 Visit tannehill.org or call 477-5711.
Argo Drive-In 27 miles, 30 minutes An inexpensive and fun way to spend an evening with the family! Go back to the 1950s with an oldfashioned drive-in. Pack an appetizer- style picnic dinner the family can graze on, complete with homemade popcorn. If the evening proves to be a nice southern night, open your tailgate and line the back with pillows or use a blow up mattress in a friend’s truck bed. If you want to move outdoors, BYOC (bring your own chair), grab a blanket and set up shop facing the screen. There is nothing like
taking in a family flick under the southern night sky. • For the GPS: 100 Angus St. , Trussville, AL 35173 Visit argodrive-in.com or call 467-3434 .
Indoor Fun Peanut Depot 4 miles, 10 minutes What could be better than a warm bag of peanuts on a rainy day? Drive into the loft district and walk onto cobblestoned Morris Avenue to take a trip back in time. Take in the architecture as you walk into the turn-of-thecentury building that houses the Peanut Depot. Let the kids enjoy the sights and sounds of the antique roasters roasting peanuts the original organic way. Be sure to take a bag to go – the first bag will likely be gone before you arrive back in Mountain Brook. • For the GPS: 2016 Morris Ave., Birmingham, AL 35203 Visit peanutdepot.com or call 251-3314.
Vintage Fire Truck Museum 4 miles, 10 minutes Imagine you are 5 years old, dreaming of hopping in an open-top fire truck, honking the horn, running the siren and even pretending you are racing to a real fire. Now wake up – in downtown Birmingham, this is a reality. The Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association houses more than 20 vintage fire trucks dating back to 1917. Truck owners and museum staff couldn’t be any nicer or more excited to share their collection with your family. It is a morning well spent and a ball for all who are young and young at heart. Contact Jerry Northington at 903-0050 to schedule a visit.
Southern Museum of Flight 10 miles, 15 minutes Let the kids take off on a morning of adventure at this museum of southern aviation history. The attraction is outstandingly familyfriendly and offers fun for toddlers through teens. A pilots’ playroom includes an indoor mini playground and many aircraft toys, a
Moonwalk, an airplane open for exploration and a flight simulator for kids age 12 and older. An F-4 Phantom provides shade for the perfect picnic spot, so pack a lunch for this high-flying fun morning. • For the GPS: 4343 73rd St. N., Birmingham, AL 35206 Visit southernmuseumofflight.org or call 833-8226.
Golden Flake Company 5 miles, 15 minutes Have you ever eaten a warm chip right off the delivery line? Well if not, you’re in luck. Birmingham is home to one of the oldest and most recognizable snack companies in the nation, Golden Flake. The company offers walking tours for ages 5 and older Monday through Wednesday. Come hungry — you will have plenty of time to sample warm chips just off the line, as well as take some bags of fresh chips home with you and all for free! • For the GPS: 1 Golden Flake Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205 Visit goldenflake.com/tours.html or call 323-6161.
16 • June 2013
2013 Wedding trends
Village Living
Local vendors share what’s hot for celebrations this season
Weddings are returning to a rustic chic. According to local vendors, styles for celebrations are all about the outdoors, as brides are choosing to mix Southern style with traditional class on their wedding days.
Vintage elegance
“As was a year ago, the vintage elegance is,” said Julie Howell, coowner of vintage rental company Market 46. “They want a warm, at-home party atmosphere that is beautiful but where everyone feels comfortable.” Brides who use Market 46 decorate with vintage-type items like an old troughs made into drink dispensers, assorted china and mason jars for drinking glasses. Wood accents have replaced white pristine chairs, and burlap table clothes pair with old lace. “It gives them a sense of home and memories and traditions,” Howell said. “It’s that eclectic décor instead of your standard.” Likewise, flowers trend more garden-like instead of an extreme fixed bouquets, Howell said.
Colorful sweets
As for cakes, this year’s trends are outside the traditional white box. “Cakes are normally cream or white, but adding color is amazing,” Olexa’s Owner Diana Olexa said. “I am seeing people
Photos courtesy of Arden Photography.
use a blush background or bright lime green accents.” Olexa said she is also seeing “cake jewelry,” including bling like broaches, rhinestones and monograms, along with appliqués (small ornaments). “Girls are putting paper flowers or small birds on their cakes,” she said. “They find things on Pinterest and Etsy.”
Farm-to-table
Like Howell, Arden Ward, owner of Arden Photography in Crestline, also noted a trend toward “farm stuff” and burlap, with much attention to detail. As an example, she spoke of a recent wedding where a sign boasting words from the wedding vows on the driveway. Ward also sees the farm-style trend carrying over to the table. “Food wise, everybody doing such a beautiful job, and it’s very farm-totable,” she said. “You can see all the
influence from Chris Hastings and Frank Stitt.”
of flapper girl dresses for bridesmaids with drop waists.”
Art deco
Editor’s Note: Thanks to these vendors for sharing their expertise: Market 46, 70 Church St., Suite A, market46.com, 602-3709; Olexa’s, 2838 Culver Road, olexas.com, 8712060; and Arden Photography, 53 Church St., ardenphotography.com, 427-1144.
Beyond the rustic chic, Arden sees something new coming down the pipeline with the debut of the new Great Gatsby movie on the big creen. “In next few months, I feel like we will see a big return to Art Deco, an over-the-top, 1920s, old Hollywood style,” she said. “We’ll see the return
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June 2013 • 17
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Donald - Wahl
Margaret Brooke Donald and Tyler Stephen Wahl married on Nov. 17, 2012. at Mountain Brook Community Church. The Reverend Timothy George Kallam and Pastor Jason Edwin Dees officiated the ceremony. A reception followed at The Country Club of Birmingham. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Hamilton Donald Jr. of Mountain Brook, Alabama. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Verlon Dale Wilson Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Hamilton Donald Sr. of Birmingham. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Gene Wahl of Atlanta. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Gillespie Grist of Kentucky and Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Delano Wahl of Indiana. The bride is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and Auburn University, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, served in SGA and was a member of several campus honors organizations. She was presented at the Ball of Roses. The groom is a graduate of Saint James Academy of Montgomery and Auburn University, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, served in SGA and was a member several campus honors organizations. He graduated in May from University of Alabama School of Medicine and then begin his surgical residency at University of Alabama. The couple will reside in Homewood.
Celebrations
Lavender - Gosney
Dickinson-Plosser
Ms. Barbara Comstock Lavender announces the engagement of her daughter, Laura Emily Lavender, to Matthew Conrad Gosney, son of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Conrad Gosney of Muscle Shoals. Miss Lavender is the daughter of the late Mr. Charles Brooks Lavender of Mountain Brook. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lavender of Cincinnati and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Comstock of Kenton, Ohio. Miss Lavender is a graduate of Auburn University and is employed with Children’s of Alabama. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Gosney of Junction, Texas, and Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Herring of Maryneal, Texas. Mr. Gosney received his undergraduate from Auburn University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated with a Juris Doctor from Birmingham School of Law and is currently an attorney and founder of Gosney and Associates, LLC. The wedding is planned for August 17 in Birmingham.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Robert Dickinson Jr., of Memphis announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Taylor, to William McDonald Plosser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Donald Plosser. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mrs. John Martin Tully and the late John Martin Tully of Memphis, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Robert Dickinson of Banner Elk, N.C. Miss Dickinson is a graduate of St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. She has her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Memphis. The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Gray Plosser of Birmingham, and Mr. and Mrs. John William Straker of Zanesville, Ohio. Mr. Plosser is a graduate of Mountain Brook High school and Rhodes College, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He is currently enrolled in the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The wedding is planned for June 1 at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis.
18 • June 2013
Village Living
Tall tales around the table By MADOLINE MARKHAM Around the dining table in her childhood home, Jackie Goldstein’s father’s stories came to life: finger prints on a fish, bear attacks, frogs without legs and whatever combination of believability and imagination he spoke to life on a given night. Everyone who heard John Lutes’ “tall tales” would vividly remember them for years to come. “He had a way of mixing truth and fiction by adding things you knew to be true that gave validity to the story,” Goldstein said of her father, a career salesman. Now Goldstein has revived his stories in a new book, Fish, Fog, Frogs (and Other Stories) (penned with her maiden name, Jackie Lutes), which she hopes will bring back the power of storytelling she felt in her childhood. “I hope the reader can envision the family sitting around the table,” she said. “Grandparents will remember how the dining table was the gathering place before everyone rushed back to the TV or off to a little league game after eating.” The book is appropriate for a fifth through sixth grade reading level, but Goldstein said the stories are for everybody. The first of 10 chapters opens by setting the
scene around Goldstein’s family table as her own children listen to their “Gaga.” The book goes on to tell eight of his beloved stories in his voice. Goldstein’s children, Jennifer and Jonathan, both MBHS graduates, provided the illustrations for the stories. Mary Ann Glazner, who taught Goldstein’s children years ago, has stocked Smith’s Variety with copies of the book and held a book signing at the store last month. She was eager to share the stories with her grandchildren. “I love the book, it’s absolutely precious,” Glazner said. “It’s got old stories that you would sit around the table and your father or grandfather would tell you. They are hilarious. It makes you think of stories that you heard growing up.” When her father passed away in 1980, their family kept his memory alive by remising about his stories. Soon thereafter, she wrote down the stories and distributed photocopies to family, friends and colleagues. More recently with the advent of selfpublishing, her brother encouraged her to distribute the text more widely. So last year, she brushed up the copy and recruited a retired English professor friend to edit them. Within months, the paperback book was in stores in Mountain Brook, the community that has been
Jackie Goldestein has written a children’s book that captures her father’s “tall tales.” Photo by Madoline Markham.
her home since 1966. Goldstein, a psychology professor at Samford University, is continuing to pursue writing. She is currently working on a memoir about her travel experiences as well as a book about the positive role communities can play in reducing the trauma of mental illness. But she is also working to distribute her kids’ book to share its stories both for the sake of
nostalgia and of the present. “I hope the book will encouraging people to seek out their own family legends and keep their memories alive,” she said. Fish, Fog, Frogs (and Other Stories) is available at Smith’s Variety and Crestline Pharmacy as well as on amazon.com for $7.95. To learn more about Goldstein’s writing, visit jackiejourneys.com.
June 2013 • 19
VillageLivingOnline.com
School House BWF’s Got Talent Band places in NY festival Mountain Brook High School’s Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble were the only bands to represent Alabama at the Heritage Festival in New York City in April. The Symphonic Band received all superior ratings and placed second in its classification. The ranking also resulted in the band’s second-ever invitation to the prestigious Festival of Gold held in Orchestra Hall in Chicago and other prominent concert halls. The Jazz Ensemble also received third place in its classification.
BWF’s Got Talent participant Tommy Butrus, third grade, played Notre Dame’s fight song on the piano, and Ella Lee, first Grade, performed an Irish dance in traditional costume.
Mountain Brook High School Band members in New York City.
By ALISON TAYLOR
A week of reading By CATHERINE BODNAR Cherokee Bend students and staff shared the love of reading in Cherokee Bend READS Week in April, together reading 127,285 minutes. That equals out to 2,121 hours or 88 days of reading. Malek Grant, a Mountain Brook High basketball player, read with fifth-grade students. Other guests visited to read during the week as well. Cherokee Bend students also donated 3,065 books to the Birmingham Reads Book Drive. These books will be distributed to students in Birmingham and will be treasured for years to come. Sixth Grade Ambassadors helped with the book collection each morning. PTO Mighty Men loaded books and delivered them to Brookwood Mall.
Front row: Riley Smith, Addison Tierney, Malek Grant, Charles Nicrosi and Hays Edmunds. Back row: Sara Frances Berte, Sam Rysedorph and Tessa Allen.
Brookwood Forest Elementary held its annual BWF’s Got Talent talent show in April. Students in first through sixth grade got to show off their talents for singing, dancing, piano, violin, gymnastics and rhythm performances. Particiapting students were: Peter Pitman, Hillary Rome, Hannah Hitson, Sara Allen Brown, Lucy Garner, Addison Wint, Tommy Butrus, Merritt Crumpton, Martha Anderson, Camille Gillum, Rayna Mastin, Abby Cohn, Anne Warren Gray, Bud Sanders, Ella Lee, Caroline Robinson, Hannah Halpern, Helen Dorough, Grace Xu, Jamie Perlman, Anna Catherine Sorrells, Lillie Young, Claire Tucker, Ella Rosenthal, Kat Smith, Olivia Wallace, Lauren Sklar, Grace Turner, Kathleen Odum, Molly Frohsin, Mary Michael Shaffer, Raegan Nichols, Lilly Martin, Bella Hoffman, Alex Gauld and Mark Waller. Ranger PTO volunteers Kelly Putman and Molly Baker co-chaired this event.
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20 • June 2013
Village Living
Alpine adventure
Cherokee Bend second graders celebrate famous Americans
Abby Seton as Pocohantas, Alaina Long as Dara Torres, Ella Cobb as Sally Ride and Reagan Riley as Wilma Rudoph.
By CATHERINE BODNAR
Katherine McDonald, Virginia Webb, and Kennedy Martin get ready to climb the rock wall.
By HILARY ROSS When you are a fifth grader at Mountain Brook Elementary, the entire year is spent in anticipation of the Alpine Adventure — a week each spring where roughly 80 students travel to Mentone for learning while living in cabins at Camp Alpine. MBE takes the classroom outdoors, and for many, the experience is a favorite from years spent at the elementary school. After writing an essay, 20 parent chaperones are chosen to accompany the four classroom teachers: Bill Andrews, Suzanne Andrews, Loretta Rowan and Tammy Tolleson. The two physical education teachers, Matt Cain and Cherry Thomas, also supervise the children. I asked Truc Brouillette, mother of fifth grader Jessica, to help me understand the adventure from a “mom” perspective. Here is her synopsis: Monday consisted of trekking following a map and compass. During the wilderness trek, we identified wildflowers the students researched
prior to the trip. Tuesday was hiking the local state park to a little waterfall. The kids repeled down seven feet or so to explore a cave in the rocks. On Wednesday, we hiked a canyon to a spectacular waterfall and then went on a wild cave expedition. When we finished, we were covered in mud and should have earned a shirt that said, “I survived Raccoon Cave.” Thursday was stream ecology. Because it had rained the afternoon and evening before, the temperature dropped down to the mid-30s in the morning. The kids took the pH and temperature of the water. They inspected rocks and found mayfly, dragonfly nymph, clams, snails and a leech. The climb back was like climbing The Great Wall of China. Then after lunch, there was the rope course, V swing, climbing wall and zip line. Thursday night was the dance. It was amazing to see children who may have started the week introverted break free from their cocoon and show moves on the dance floor!
Recently, Cherokee Bend second graders completed a project-based learning study on famous Americans. The study included reading a variety of genres, internet
research, publishing a piece of writing and a giving a technology presentation. To culminate the study, students dressed in costume to portray their character/ famous person in a musical performance.
Debate brings home state rankings Members of the Mountain Brook High School debate team competed and placed in the state debate tournament in Montgomery in April. Results were as follows:
ff Junior George Perrine and freshman Marc
Straus were named the state champions in policy debate. ff Junior Amelia Putnam was named the state champion in varsity Lincoln-Douglas. ff Sophomore Ben Jones was a semi-final qualifier in novice Lincoln-Douglas. ff Juniors Caroline Goolsby and Hope Reamer earned third place in policy debate. ff Senior Jeff Rogers earned fourth place in congressional debate. ff Senior Wyatt Moorer earned third place in congressional debate. ff Junior Caroline Milligan earned second place in congressional debate.
Marc Straus and George Perrine are the policy debate state champions.
June 2013 • 21
VillageLivingOnline.com
MBHS student starts recycling program Thanks to Catherine Masingill and the support of Mountain Brook High School teachers and staff, MBHS now has a recycling program. We asked her to tell us how the program got started. I got the idea for the recycling program last year after being an English teacher’s teacher aide and was constantly shredding, filing or organizing stacks and stacks of paper. One day during my draw/paint class, our principal, Dr. Vic Wilson, was roaming the halls and made a stop by my class. I told him how I thought that MBHS needed to recycle, and he told me to get a proposal together and meet with him a couple of days after school got out. Later that week, I was just talking about my idea, and Greer Cunningham overheard me and told me that she and her mom had recently been talking about the same thing! We got the card of a young MBHS and Alabama graduate, Will Hollingsworth, owner of Birmingham Recycling and Recovery and son of Carey Hollingsworth, who is a prominent architect in the area. After meeting with Greer Cunningham and getting facts, we met with Dr. Wilson and he gave us more information about the school side of things. It turned out that two other groups of kids had tried to start recycling programs, but they either involved digging in the trash after school (no thanks!) or an inefficient way of recycling pick up. We realized during this meeting that recycling bins and a recycling dumpster were vital. My job was to write a proposal and keep in contact with Will Hollingsworth. I grabbed my laptop, my notes, school maps and a notepad and went straight to the Church Street Coffee and Books store to put it all together. I was there for more than six hours and was so proud of what I had done. After presenting my work to Dr. Wilson, he made a phone call to Mountain Brook Schools
Catherine Masingill initiated a recycling program at Mountain Brook High School.
Director of Facilities Ken Key who said, “No Waste Management, we use Allied Waste for the schools!” WM had already told me they would donate 50 free bins for the classrooms and workrooms as long as we bought the dumpster. At this point, I had to change my plans and deal with Ally Waste. I was about to go off of the deep end. Surprisingly, it took one phone call, and Ally provided us with exactly the same deal and matched the price of the recycling dumpster! It was a blessing. Now we have 50 classroom bins, and five larger rollable bins located in the mall, near the library and workrooms. My Leadership Mountain Brook team and I are now working with the City of Mountain Brook to put recycling receptacles in the Villages. -Submitted by Suzanne Milligan
Parenting and Family with Dr. Dale Wisely
Weather fears My child is 10 and has an extreme fear of bad weather. She sometimes is reluctant to go outside if there is so much as a cloud in the sky. Is this common? I am concerned it is getting in the way of her usual activities. To frame this discussion, let’s review fears versus phobias. We all know what fear is. In theory, fear is a physical and emotional response to a threatening stimulus. If I were in a locked closet with a snake, I would experience fear. (I would also scream and cry and beg for my mommy, but that’s a topic for another column.) A phobia is an extreme and irrational fear that leads to distress and, importantly, some kind of avoidance. A phobia prevents us from doing things we want to do or need to do. The distinction between rational and irrational fears is tricky when it comes to weather. As we know all too well in Alabama, severe weather outbreaks do happen and pose a substantial threat at times. If our kids are showing anxiety about weather, we really cannot say to them that they are completely safe from the impact of storms. They know better. Often, we rely instead on talking to kids about the odds. The odds are, we say, you won’t be hurt by a storm. This is true, but usually not helpful. Think about fears of flying. Many rational adults are afraid to fly. They have heard a thousand times that it is safer to fly somewhere than to drive across the Birmingham metro area. (This, considering it is the Birmingham metro area, is definitely true.) They have heard that the chances of being in a plane crash are incredibly remote. But, even for rational people, these appeals to probability often do not help. Fears related to weather aren’t rare in children. They are common after exposure to
severe weather events — personal exposure or exposure through learning about it happening to others. Many young people go through periods of a few weeks or months during which this fear is quite significant after which, more or less spontaneously, the fear subsides to the prudent caution that we all should have. But, when the fears are severe, when they persist for more than a few weeks, and especially when they prevent the child from doing things he or she needs or wants to do, it is time to act. Consider seeking guidance from your child’s pediatrician about the need for psychological assessment and treatment. In the meantime, we can tell our children that we love them and we will always do whatever we must to protect them. Sometimes the fact that we will always take care of our children is something we take for granted as parents. We forget that children sometimes need to be reassured that is true. Our children need the freedom to express their fears and not be shamed or belittled for having them. Then they need information. We can help our kids by making them aware of the steps we take when weather threatens. The prudent use of “storm drills” in our home can help children know there is a plan in place for staying safe in a severe storm or tornado. Kids need concrete information: Where will we go? How long will we be there? Will I have something to drink, to eat? How will I go to the bathroom? Will we be together? Dale Wisely, Ph.D. is Director of Student Services at Mountain Brook Schools and has been a child and adolescent psychologist for nearly 30 years. Dr. Wisely welcomes your questions for future columns; email jennifer@villagelivingonline.com to submit yours.
22 • June 2013
Village Living
SOS students donate more than 5,000 service hours By ELIZABETH FARRAR
Light repairs to new construction Free estimates
“Attention to Detail Matters”
This year, Students Organized for Service (SOS) members from Mountain Brook Junior High School helped at the First Light Shelter, worked at Birmingham Zoo events and tutored with the STAIR program to help second-grade students with their reading skills. In the fall, the students organized and implemented a shoe drive for Shoes for Students, an organization that sends shoes to Tanzania. Most recently in April, the students collected gently used clothing and household goods for the Right Stuff Thrift Store in Leeds, which provides goods to underserved members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay. By May 1, MBJH SOS members had donated a total of 5,471 volunteer hours, with 12 students each donating more than 100 volunteer hours. Jack Brewster, Jeb Brown, Will Kimberlin, El McMillan, Peyton Billingsley and Glenn Haas.
A grand celebration By ALISON TAYLOR
Stephen Ray raybuildingcompany.com (205) 296-5291
Kindergarten classes at Brookwood Forest were the stars of the morning recently at Grandpals Day. They performed for their grandparents on stage, enjoyed breakfast together and then walked the red carpet to
their classrooms all to celebrate their grandparents. Committee members for the event were Meg Lilly, chair; Melissa Altman; Sarah Bailey; Laura Brown; Laura Carlson; Amy Ellis; Liz Fry; Hilary Gewant; Margaret Opolka; Kara Pardue; Pamela Windsor and Amy Sanders.
BWF kindergartner Langston Lilly with her grandparents Ginger Cowley, Joe Lilly and Judy Lilly.
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VillageLivingOnline.com
Destination Imagination wins state, headed to nationals By SUZANNE MILLIGAN Mountain Brook High School students Zack Feig, Ricky Feig, Cat Schultz, Alex Schultz, James Pewitt and Anna Weldon can now put Destination Imagination State Champions on their resume. In February, they won the Alabama regional tournament, and in April they won the Alabama Affiliate tournament with a wind-powered kinetic sculpture and skit retelling story of Jack and the Beanstalk. As part of their solution, they built a 15-foot-tall giant and windpowered “mill” with a working conveyor belt. The team presented its solution at the competition in an eight-minute skit. This creativity competition takes teams of five to seven students and asks them to devise original solutions to mind-bending problems. “It’s a time intensive activity that takes four hours a week or more, with the kids spending about 20 hours a week the two weeks before the competition,” said team coach Trina Feig. “This team started preparing in January of 2013.” This team is currently fundraising to travel to the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Knoxville to compete against schools from around the world this summer. Pictured with their 15-foot tall giantess are (back) Zach Feig, (middle) James Pewitt, Cat Schultz, Alex Schultz, Ricky Feig, Eddy Yu, and (bottom) Anna Welden.
Students place in Future Problem Solvers competition
Crestline fifth grade PAGE students. Front Row: Tate Record, Tess Patton, Stephen Malone, Hadley Bryant, Anne Carlton Clegg, Madeline Huh. Back Row: Coach, Julia Peterson, Mary Grace Lorino, Lily Rowe, Crawford Poynor. Not pictured is Logan Brewer.
By BRITT REDDEN Crestline’s fifth-grade PAGE students recently participated in the State Bowl for the Alabama Future Problem Solvers. After studying topics of celebrity culture, robotics and megacities, and ranking high enough for an invitation to the State Bowl, these students traveled to Auburn University to participate in solving the problems of Ocean Soup. Crestline’s three teams won first and third place in the Junior Division Booklet Competition and first, second and third place in the Junior Division Presentation of Action Plan for their skits. First-place booklet and second-place skit team members are Hadley Bryant, Stephen Malone, Tess Patton and Tate Record. Third-place booklet and first-place skit winning team members are Logan Brewer, Anne Carlton Clegg, Crawford Poynor and Lily Rowe. Team members Bebe Holloway, Madeline Huh, Mary Grace Lorino and Lauren Walston won third place in the skit. The first-place booklet team has an invitation to international competition to be held at Indiana University.
24 • June 2013
Village Living
Sports
Seniors lead varsity soccer to state title By JEFF THOMPSON For this year’s Mountain Brook Varsity Girls Soccer Team, the key to surviving the state playoffs was being fast out of the gate. After establishing a reputation as a “second-half team,” Coach Scott Flowers said, the Spartans focused on striking early and often on their way through the State Semi-Finals. And when they were face-to-face with Oak Mountain in the State Championship, they didn’t let up. “In the first half we had plenty of chances, and we outshot them,” he said. “And when we met up at the half, we all felt really good.” By the end of the game, it felt even better. By a score of 2-0 over the OMHS Eagles, Mountain Brook earned the AHSAA 6A State Title in Girls Soccer in May in Huntsville. It was the fourth in school history for the sport and Mountain Brook’s fourth state championship this year. Besides being aggressive, Flowers said, another of his team’s keys to victory against the notoriously quick Eagles was to apply defensive pressure. Slowing them down meant forcing them to play out of tight spaces, staying consistent on defense and avoiding counter attacks.
The Mountain Brook High School Varsity Girls Soccer Team celebrates its state championship victory. Photo courtesy of Paula Windle.
“We set our focus on pressing them as a team,” he said. “We sent anybody we could at whoever had the ball. If we did lose possession, we made sure to put on early pressure.” The Spartans also excelled at defense this season, allowing only 15 goals in 27 games and shutting out all five opponents in the playoffs.
With about 12 minutes remaining, the Spartans’ tactics pushed the title further out of OMHS’s reach when they added a second score. Flowers said a confidence came over the sideline, and he began substituting players. “My goal was to get all 19 of our players on the field to give everyone
a chance to say they played in the state championship,” he said. “But the biggest goal for us was to end the game with all 11 seniors on the field.” Flowers said he didn’t know of another team they faced this year with as many senior members as the Spartans, which he said meant expectations for on- and off-field
leadership were high. He also said his team rose to that challenge. “Most of these seniors have grown up playing together since they were little,” Flowers said. “They have such good chemistry, and when 11 played at once, it came through.” Flowers said even with such a large portion of the team graduating, expectations for next season wouldn’t fall – mostly because his players won’t let it. “I’ve already had this year’s junior team members in my office saying, ‘Coach, we’ve got to get after it. We’ve got to get to work.’ And it’s only been one day since the championship. They’re not even enjoying it.” The 2012-2013 State Champion Varsity Girls Soccer Team (22-32) is: Adelaide Kimberly; Anna Catherine Gillespy; Annabelle Friedman; Ansley Joy Peacock; Catherine Armstrong; Elizabeth Clutton; Elizabeth Moore; Heitho Shipp; Jessica Wilson; Julia Grace Gillen; Katie Windle; Kayla Dowler; Laura Rice; Lowry Neil; Maggie Dodson; Maggie Jeffords; Marguerite Edmonds; Nicole Strahl; Olivia Lantz; Rachael Reddy; and Sarah Grace Lindsey.
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VillageLivingOnline.com
Lacrosse takes state
Front row: Libby Faulconer, Lucy Neal. Second row: Katie Jackson, Mary Kathryn Parrott, Elise Nesbitt, Maggie Miller, Meredith Stringfellow, Clara Blackwell (Williams). Back row: Coach Michelle Patriquin, Hayden Griffen, Julia Bell Pope, Olivia Mannon, Michelle Wu, Sarah Michel, Mary Parker Wetzler, Lee Chapman, Laura Tovar, Coach Hunter Faulconer. Not pictured: Joely Nadler and Caroline Clark. Photo courtesy of Chap Jackson.
The 2013 Mountain Brook Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team defeated the top-seeded Oak Mountain Girls Varsity Team in May to win the 2013 Alabama State Championship, 12-11. Multiple players from the team were also featured in the Alabama-Mississippi Lacrosse All-Star Showcase. All Mountain Brook players in the showcase made an all-state
Birmingham United boys win State Championship Birmingham United Soccer Association U13 00 Elite Blue team won the Alabama State Soccer Championship in May, defeating teams from Mobile, Huntsville, Vestavia and Hoover. The team will advance to the Regional Championship in Oklahoma. Mountain Brook Junior High seventh-graders Hudson Dorough, Ryan Gaynor, Selim Tunagur and Carter Emack contributed to the team’s success.
team and will be recognized during half-time of the showcase. In addition, the following players made first team all-state: Libbie Faulconer, Olivia Mannon, Lucy Neal, Laura Tovar, Michelle Wu, Hayden Griffin. Maggie Miller and Julia Bell Pope were named to the second team all-state. The team is coached by Michelle Patriquin.
Mountain Brook girls secure third straight golf title
Carolyn McCalley, Lane Proctor, Tatum Jackson and Meg McCalley with MBHS Coach Jackie Clayton.
By WILL HIGHTOWER A balanced Mountain Brook Girls Golf Team, led by seniors Carolyn McCalley and Lane Proctor, shot its way to its third straight 6A State Championship. The team shot 237 in the final round at The Shoals, which is a Robert Trent Jones course. Auburn finished second, shooting 243. Tatum Jackson, who followed a round of 73 with a 76, was the lowest-scoring Spartan golfer in the tournament. With Jackson’s help, Proctor and McCalley were able to cap off successful high school careers with their third straight title. The last two championship teams had not featured any seniors, making this year even more special. “This team had tremendous confidence in its ability,” Coach Jackie Clayton said. “We would show up at matches, and we knew we were going to win. We knew that confidence would just flow to our opponents, and they knew we were going to win. That’s why we won sometimes by as much as 30 plus strokes.”
26 • June 2013
Village Living
Opinion Life Actually By Kari Kampakis
Me, my man & 15 years It all started with a pair of blue swim trunks. The fact that he was driving a ski boat didn’t hurt. I knew Harry in college, but not until a year after graduation did I really see him. He was at the beach with his friends; I was there with mine. We were all hanging out and reveling in the freedom of being young, carefree and financially independent. I turned to my friend sitting by me in the boat. “Harry’s hot,” I whispered. “I know,” she whispered back. “I’ve always had a thing for him.” And thus began my story with my husband, on a remarkable day 18 years ago, when the Gulf water was sparkling and perfect, and the catch of the day was standing right in front of me. Less than a month later, I’d realize my new love interest wasn’t just the catch of the day – he was the catch of a lifetime. Harry and I celebrate 15 years of marriage this month. He is my soul mate, my rock and my best friend. He’s also an incredible father, better than I ever imagined. Our daughters adore him, and although they’re too young to fully comprehend how blessed they are to have him, one day they’ll know. Our marriage isn’t perfect. We bicker and push each other’s buttons. Harry tells me when I’m unreasonable; I tell him when he’s
insensitive. But even in chaos and rough patches, he has my back, and I have his. He loves me like I want to be loved. Harry has so many great qualities, but what I love most are his patience and willingness to listen. Harry is never too busy to listen, even when I’m tired of listening to myself. And because he listens, he knows my heart. He can counsel me through any decision or issue, helping me see the forest through the trees. Did I mention we have fun together? That we both love country music, from Willie Nelson and George Jones to Toby Keith and Zac Brown? Although we didn’t date in college, I feel like I was at the KA house with him because I’ve heard him rehash stories with his fraternity brothers a million times. Their stories are hilarious, the kind that make you bust a gut laughing. Seeing Harry with his buddies makes me happy because he’s so happy. Reminiscing puts him in his element. At home, Harry is met by four squealing girls each weeknight when he walks in from work. Our daughters race to hug him and divulge details of their day. They talk at once, competing for attention and elbowing each other aside as if he’s a star. I keep thinking they’ll outgrow this red-carpet treatment, but not yet. Again, it is Harry’s patience and
listening ears that make them eager to share. His smiling face is all the invitation they need. Someone once told me, “Marry the guy who’ll be up with you in the middle of the night with a sick baby.” When I fell for Harry, I wasn’t thinking about babies, sleep deprivation or midnight meltdowns. I wasn’t looking for a best friend or long-term companion. I just liked what I saw, and I was curious to know more. But lucky for me, Harry has proved to be the guy who sticks by me in bewitching hours; who never left my side after our first child was born because I was petrified; who does more than his fair share with the kids so I can write and pursue my dreams. While no one’s perfect, I can say he’s perfect for me. When I’m with him, I like myself better. I feel safe, accepted and understood. And if I’ve learned anything in 15 years, it’s the power of one kind act. Because when Harry makes a kind gesture – fixing me a grilled cheese sandwich after church, bringing me a cup of coffee on Saturday morning – I want to reciprocate. And when I do, he reciprocates back. Our marriage works best with this dynamic in motion, when we both leave pride at the door and serve each other. It doesn’t take anything grand or dramatic - just little reminders that we care.
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Kari Kampakis with her husband
I’ve also learned to keep our best memories alive and to stay strong as a twosome because one day it’ll be just us again. We’ll be back to living for each other’s company, and I don’t want to be twiddling my thumbs thinking, “I’m lost without the kids. What next?” I want to be high-fiving Harry and saying, “Alleluia, honey, we did it! That was exhausting but fun! Now, onto our golden years. What first?” My dream is for us to enjoy another honeymoon period, to catch the bliss of a second wind. I still have Harry’s blue swim trunks from that day. They’re old and faded but vibrant in memory. I love
Harry Kampakis
to remember my first impressions, and how I felt like I knew him before I did. I think that’s what a soul mate is, someone your heart recognizes inexplicably and who feels like they’ve been there all along, living in the wings of your life and waiting for the right moment to make the entrance that changes everything. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four with a background in PR, writing and photography. For weekly inspiration, you can “like” her new Facebook page at “Kari Kampakis, Writer” or visit her blog at karikampakis.com. Email Kari at kari@karikampakis. com.
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June 2013 • 27
VillageLivingOnline.com
Faith
Hollys switching roles By NATHAN KELLY Canterbury United Methodist Church is getting one Holly as the other moves on. Mike Holly has served at Canterbury for more than six years and as its contemporary worship pastor for more than two. He announced in April that he would be leaving the church to accept a role as head pastor for Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover starting June 12. The position opened up after The Rev. Reid Crotty announced he would be retiring from Bluff Park after serving 22 years as the church’s head pastor. Holly said the best parts about his time at Canterbury were the relationships he made. “A friend once told me that if I ever got the chance to work at Canterbury to take the job,” he said. “He told me Canterbury had the best resources you could find in a church. It wasn’t until I started working there that I realized by ‘resources,’ he meant the wonderful people on staff and in the congregation at Canterbury.” He noted that Crotty left him some big shoes to fill since not many pastors get the chance to stay with one congregation for 22 years. He plans on learning from his wife, Julie, who has served as head pastor at Discovery United Methodist Church for five years. As Mike leaves Canterbury to serve at Bluff Park, Julie will take his
GriefShare program offered for summer Crestline Church is partnering with GriefShare to host a 13-week Christian-based grief support program. Sessions will run from June 6 to Sept. 5 (no meeting July 4) beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Education Building at 605 Hagood Street. GriefShare groups meet weekly to help those who have lost a spouse, child, family member or friend
face challenges and move toward rebuilding their lives. The groups offer a friendly, caring body of people who will walk alongside one another through one of life’s most difficult experiences so no one goes through the grieving process alone. For more or to register for the program, contact Lawanna (Lonnie) Montgomery at 956-0798 or the church office at 879-6001.
Homeless for a night
Julie and Mike Holly with their children Davis and Lena. Photo courtesy of the Holly family.
place at Canterbury in June. Julie said the transition will be easy since she is already familiar with the Canterbury congregation through her husband. As the two pastors switch roles in their careers, Julie said she is familiar with the responsibility her husband is about to undertake. “There have been multiple times that I needed Mike for support and advice when faced with big decisions in the church,” she said. “I know Mike is going to succeed in any role that he takes, and now I’m looking forward to being there for him when he needs me to lean on.” The Hollys have two children, Lena
and Davis, which makes for a unique situation with their family having two pastors at different churches. Julie said there are many times when their services coincide, but it was an easy adjustment and made the family stronger since working in the same career field helps the two collaborate and bounce ideas off of each other. Both Hollys have helped their churches grow and meet financial goals. Mike said they both have been given wonderful opportunities, and he thinks the transition for both of them will lead to something exciting and unexpected.
MBJH students built cardboard structures to sleep in as a part of weekend program that taught them about homelessness in Birmingham.
Recently Mountain Brook Junior High students gave up the comfort of beds and homes to learn about homelessness in Birmingham. Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Church of the Advent teamed up to host a weekend retreat to learn about homeless causes, issues and how local churches work to help homeless ministries. They began the weekend with a two-hour simulation of the trials and difficulties many people face
on the streets like finding temporary housing and meeting medical needs. Students then built overnight structures out of cardboard boxes in the meadow behind Saint Luke’s and braved the cold night. The next day the group headed downtown to Linn Park to hear UAB professor and expert sociologist Rev. Deacon Mark LaGory teach about causes and concerns of homelessness in Alabama before serving at various shelters around the city.
28 • June 2013
Village Living
Local author sees success with book on validity of the Bible Growing up in the Bible Belt, Richard Simmons was always told the Bible was the word of God, but he was never told a reason why. As an adult, the Mountain Brook native began to research the reasons why he should put his faith in what many believe is an archaic book with no authority. “If I was going to teach my children from the Bible,” he said, “I felt I needed to tell them why they should put their faith in it.” The local author’s years of personal research have culminated in a new book: Reliable Truth. Simmons said his book presents a powerful argument on two pivotal questions: How do you know the Bible has not been altered over time? And how do you know it’s a divine book? The book is available at Amazon. com, at 256 Books-A-Million stores, and locally at Savage’s Bakery and O’Henry’s Coffee, as well as other retailers. Simmons noted that several people have told him this is the best of his four books, but the responses that stood out the most were two agnostics who said they found it a
Author Richard Simmons
compelling read. Starting the fall of 2011, Simmons gave eight presentations on the Bible’s validity to about 150 men at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church. Following the positive responses he received from these presentations, he decided to share his findings with a wider audience in a book. “I wanted to write a very scholarly
book where a high school student or average man or woman would find it to be a compelling read,” Simmons said. “What I had found in my research was that most books written on validity of the Bible were very scholarly, but there was nothing out there for average people.” Simmons said his favorite chapter of the eight in the book is on science and the Bible. “I think most people are not aware of what’s going on in the world of science and how it relates to theology,” Simmons said. “It’s easy to read even if you don’t know much about science.” Simmons is founder and executive director at the Center for Executive Leadership, a Homewood-based nonprofit ministry that focuses on evangelism and discipleship of men. He works with businessmen with the development of their faith through formal Bible studies, teaching and counseling while also overseeing a group of professional and personal counselors. He is a frequent public speaker and has published three other books. For more, visit reliabletruthbook. com.
What’s in your garden? By BILL MORGAN Canterbury United Methodist Church
“You are God’s garden… farm…field…” -1 Corinthians 3:9 What is a faith community – especially one centered in the God we know in Jesus? A. A religious museum where you double-back to do some baptism, wedding and funeral rites of passage that might or might not have any impact on your life otherwise? B. A religious mall where if we conjure up religious products that match some consumer life itch-nitch, they will come? C. A people garden to nourish faith-life that reaches out to renew the community, even world? * At Canterbury, we continue to seek remedial and advanced work on being a people-growing community, forming faithlives to relieve hurt and increase good in the world. Resulting from our comprehensive long-range planning process, “NEXT STEP” – 1,000 surveys, more than 200 in focus groups, 125 in a two-day workshop (basked in worship, prayer and Bible study; midwifed by a gifted ‘outside’ coach-consultant) – five strategic initiatives are off and running on their/ our/God’s way for now and the future: Good to Great With Children & Youth Faith Formation. In place: a birth-tocollege roadmap of developmental steps
for faith, worship, Bible and life application. Just now, the consultation group that helped us make a good thing even better with our youth ministry is working with our fine children’s ministry. Making a Good Thing Better with Worship is ongoing in New Traditions, Traditional and Contemporary venues. Just launched, “The WAY” is for everyone attracted to its style and time, but especially for life application of young adults. Radical Hospitality reaches out to newcomers; teaches us to respond from their perspective; seeks to transform the culture of our congregation into one that delights and excels in welcoming, including and seeking all and diverse comers. Relational Outreach weaves our housing, food, health, tutoring and senior care into one area in a person-to-person way. Our Avondale-Canterbury Joint Venture service center opens in July for a community with great needs and great promise. Whole Family Spiritual Growth. We are generation rich with all stages of the life arc. With opportunities for parenting, marriage, single life, faith application in our work and more, we seek the mutual faith and life enrichment of children, youth,and adults. Thankfully, there are a number of faith people gardens in our area. We welcome all to the Canterbury garden. * Hint: pick C.
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FASCIA • LICENSED • REFERENCES
Pastor’s Corner
WINDOWS • DOORS • MOLDINGS
By MADOLINE MARKHAM
June 2013 • 29
VillageLivingOnline.com
SIDEWALKS from page 1
about six months to complete. “As someone who works to improve our school system, I am excited for the Safe Routes to Schools project,” said Anne Womack, Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation director. “Anything that can give our students easier access to schools and ease the parents’ minds is a great thing. I also think this will only add to the overall community feel of Mountain Brook. We are so linked together already, but the sidewalk project will help promote that even more.” The Safe Routes to School grants were received in 2008, the first awarded in the state. The City applied for grants for all four elementary schools, but only two were awarded. Gaston said the City might be able to apply for more grants in the future. Gaston said the City won’t know the costs for the project until it is bid out, but it should be less than the $800,000 estimated in a previous bid that covered more area. Remaining phases Beyond the Safe Routes to Schools projects, one more phase of the MBVWS is under construction and another has been funded. Phase 6 in the Cherokee Bend area is scheduled to be completed by August, according to Gaston. The project began last summer with a December finish date but was delayed. Next on the list is Phase 8, which will run sidewalks from Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church to Mountain Brook High School. Federal funding has been secured for 80 percent of the project, and the City will fill in the remaining 20 percent. The City is currently awaiting ALDOT’s approval for a design contract
before preliminary engineering work can begin. Homewood connectors Outside the Master Plan, Mountain Brook’s sidewalks will soon connect to Homewood’s. A new project will link the Jemison Trail to the Lakeshore Greenway on Lakeshore Drive and Mountain Brook Village to the Hollywood neighborhood on Hollywood Boulevard. Homewood is acting as the lead agent on both plans and is working with Skipper Consulting. For the first, a potential new sidewalk would run along Lakeshore Drive from the Jemison Trail to Colonial Brookwood Village. The sidewalk would start at the intersection of Mountain Brook Parkway and Cahaba Road and run west in front of Servis 1st Bank and then under Highway 280. From there, it will cross the red light in front of Shades Valley Lutheran Church and connect to sidewalks in front of Colonial Brookwood Village that connect to the Lakeshore Greenway. This project is scheduled to be bid out later this fiscal year, according to Gaston. In addition, a sidewalk along Montevallo Road and Hollywood Boulevard would connect the cities with a wider shoulder for pedestrians to walk on, along with a protective barrier against traffic. Gaston said this project could begin later this year, but it has not been bid out yet. State Representative Paul DeMarco has been working with officials in Mountain Brook, Homewood and Birmingham to coordinate with the state to get the bridge built. Costs have not yet been determined, but Mountain Brook has agreed to contribute $50,000.
Many Mountain Brook Elementary School students walk home from school using the existing network of sidewalks. With its Safe Routes to Schools project, the City of Mountain Brook looks to improve safe travel options from all elementary schools. Photo by Caroline Drew.
Sidewalk plans, street by street Phase 6
›› Knollwood Drive; Green Valley, Over-
brook, Overcrest, Shiloh, Old Leeds and Cherokee Roads
Safe Routes to Schools (Phase 7*) Mountain Brook Elementary
›› Montevallo Road up Overhill Road to Watkins Road and ending at the bridge at Cahaba Road
›› Cambridge Road to Canterbury Road until
it reaches Canterbury Park
Crestline Elementary
›› Vine Street from the playing field to Dexter Avenue** ››West Moncrest Drive from Euclid to 22 West Moncrest Drive.
* These sidewalks were originally planned as a part of Phase 7 of the Master Plan. Now the remaining parts of Phase 7 will be folded into Phase 9 of 12. **The original plan called for sidewalks on another portion of Dexter Avenue from Vine Street to West Jackson Blvd., but the Council removed this part due to requests from area residents.
Phase 8
››Brookwood, Crosshill, Woodvale and Oak-
dale Roads between Mountain Brook Presbyterian and Mountain Brook High School
Calendar
30 • June 2013
Village Living
Community Events
Mountain Brook Events
June 1: Juneteenth Culture Fest. Kelly Ingram Park, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free music, food, games and entrance pass to the Civil Rights Museum. Call 328-9696.
Thursdays: Complimentary Wine Tasting. Piggly Wiggly, 93 Euclid Ave., Crestline. 4-6 p.m. Call 870-5640. June 6-16: Theatre LJCC’s Production of Disney’s “Little Mermaid.” June 6 & 13, 7:30 p.m. June 8 & 15, 8 p.m. June 9 & 16, 2 p.m. LJCC. Adults $15, students $12. Visit bhamjcc.org. June 4-5: American Red Cross Babysitting Training Course. $85 for the first day. $140 for both days (Includes training materials). LJCC. Register at redcross. org or call 1-800-733-2767. Visit bhamjcc.org. June 20: Yellow Dot Program. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Created to assist citizens during automobile accidents. Free program. LJCC. Walk-ins welcome. Visit bhamjcc.org. June 3-7: Camp LJCC. 9 a.m.3:30 p.m. Grades 1-8. $255. Member Cost is $195. Campers put together a theatre production. LJCC. A lacrosse camp is also offered. Visit bhamjcc.org June 17-21: Science Extreme. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $255. Member Cost is $195. Discover and experience science first hand. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc. org. June 27: Chamber Board Meeting. Board of Education, PLC Room, 7:30 p.m. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com.
June 1: Giving Hands 5K Starfish Strut. Veteran’s Park, 8 a.m. Onemile run to support Giving Hands. Visit givinghandsandhope.org. June 1: Alabaster CityFest. Free day of live music, including a 5K fun run. Visit alabastercityfest.com. June 2: Preserve Jazz Festival. Outdoor jazz festival at The Preserve in Hoover presented by Tom Williams Lexus. Grammy Award-winning Spyro Gyra is the headliner. $40 general admission. 3 p.m. Visit preservejazz.com. June 2: Vulcan’s 109th Birthday Bash. Vulcan Park, noon-4 p.m. A festive outdoor community celebration for the whole family. $3 admission, free for 4-under and Vulcan members. Visit visitvulcan.com. June 5-8: Miss Alabama Pageant. Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Call 871-6276. June 8: Alabama Symphony Orchestra Concert. Railroad Park, 8 p.m. Pre-concert picnic on the lawn at 7:30 p.m. Free Admission. Call 631-4680. June 8: Lakeshore’s Amazing Race. Teams of four will race across Lakeshore Foundation’s 45-acre campus completing interactive challenges. Proceeds go to the Lakeshore Foundation. Entry fee is $500/team. Registration at 8 a.m. Call 313-7400.
June 8: 3rd Annual Black Creek Arts Festival. Art show with local artists’ work, musical entertainment and children’s arts activities. Free admission. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 538-3676.
June 22: Smith Lake Poker Run. Registration Party on Friday evening and poker run on Saturday at 9 a.m. Benefits Birmingham AIDS Outreach. $50. Call 3224197.
June 13: Girls Night Out Operation Beach Ready. Fashion shows, food, local vendors, music and more at The Summit Club. $30. 6-10 p.m. Call 567-4668.
June 21-22: QuiltFest 2013. Oak Mountain Middle School, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Event includes a quilt show, vendors, demonstrations, door prizes and a silent auction to benefit Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. $7 for two-day admission, free for 5 and younger. Visit bhamquilters.com.
June 13: ArtCard: Porch Party and Blind Art Sale. Live music, food and art sale benefitting Oasis Counseling. $25. 6-9 p.m. Visit oasiscounseling.org/ artcard. June 5: Day on the River. Free environmental education festival for children grades three to six at King’s Bend on the Locus Fork River. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 919-6231. June 3-15: 34th Annual National Sacred Harp Singing Convention. First Christian Church, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free admission. Visit mcsr.olemiss.edu/~mudws/national. June 15: Caribbean Festival. Boutwell Auditorium, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization presents a day of fun Caribbean style. Free admission. Call 3836645.
June 22: Cast of Impractical Jokers. Alabama Theatre, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Interactive comedy show featuring the cast of the popular TV show. $35+. Visit alabamatheatre.com/event/cast-ofimpractical-jokers-live. June 21-22: Rock the South 2013. Heritage Park, 3 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday. Music festival celebrating recovery from the 2011 tornadoes, featuring Sara Evans, The Band Perry, Scotty McCreery, Hank Williams Jr. and more. There will also be a meet and greet with SEC football legends, hosted by Jay Barker. Two-day admission $49, oneday admission $30. Visit rockthesouth.com. June 21-23: State Games XXXI. The largest amateur multi-sporting event in the state, featuring Olympic-style events for Alabama’s youth. Visit alagames.com.
June 15: Dixie Reptile Show. BJCC, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Adults $4, children $1. Visit dixiereptileshow.com June 16: Bird House Extavaganza. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, 1-5 p.m. Visit ruffnermountain.org.
July 4: Thunder on the Mountain. Vulcan Park Museum, 9-9:30 p.m. Enjoy Independence Day fireworks from many viewing locations across Birmingham. Call 933-1409.
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Village Living
280 Living
Sun
The Homewood Star
June 2013 • 31
VillageLivingOnline.com
Emmet O’Neal Library Schedule Adult Programming
Tech Classes
Wednesdays: Brown Bag Lunch series. 12:30 p.m.
Registration is required for all classes. Call 445-1115 to register.
June 4: Parent-Teen Olympics. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Join forces with your teen (grades seven-12) for a chance to win an iPad 2. June 10: Great Books book group. 6:30 p.m. Discussing a selected short story “True Love” by Don Shea. June 11: The Bookies book group. 10 a.m. Discussing “In the Shadow of the Banyan” by Vaddey Tarner. June 11: Foodie Trivia. 6:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Call 445-1121 to register your team of four or fewer people. Dinner provided. June 15: Knit & Knibble. 2-3:30 p.m. All crafts and skill levels welcome.
- Audiobook Borrowing - iPad Ebook Borrowing - Kindle Ebook Borrowing - Nook Ebook Borrowing - Facebook Basics - Beginner Microsoft Word - Beginner Microsoft Excel - Technology Tour
Children’s Programming
June 18: Documentaries After Dark. 6:30 p.m.
Mondays: Toddler Tales Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.
June 22: Potluck Movie. 5 p.m. Bring a dish to share and join us for “Anna Karenina.”
Tuesdays: All-ages G-rated show. 10:30 am and 3:30 p.m.
June 25: Genre Reading Group. 6:30 p.m. Discussing humor writing.
Wednesdays: Mother Goose Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Thursdays: Patty Cake Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.
Teen Programming June 4: Parent-Teen Olympics. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Join forces with your parent or guardian for a chance to win an iPad 2. June 5: Teen Advisory Board Meeting. 5-6 p.m. June 7: Game On. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monthly video game tournament. June 14: Comic Books with Doug Baulos. 1-3 p.m. How to create a professionally bound masterpiece with an artist. June 21: Chopped., 1-3 p.m. We provide you with the ingredients, but your team has to assemble the meal. You will be judged! June 28: Dariana Dervis Artsplosion. 1-3 p.m.
Thursdays: PG-rated movie. 10:30 am. Grades three-6. Saturdays: Family Story Time with Mr. Mac. 10:30 a.m. June 11: Third/fourth grade Bookmania: A Mutiny in Time. 6 p.m. June 17-20: Geoffrey Glaub Memorial Summer Reading Camp. Register for details. June 23: Fifth/sixth grade Bookmania: The Name of This Book is Secret. 6 p.m. Space is limited; call 879-0497 or visit eolib.org to register. For more information about any of our programs, call 445-1121 and find us online.eolib.org, facebook.com/ emmetoneallibrary and eolib.blogspot.com.
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HOMEWOOD
Team Slade, Team Jerome
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ALABAMA
877-8797
Wayne Salem, Owner
2913 18th Street S.
Monday–Saturday 6:30am to 3pm www.salemsdiner.com
HOME OF THE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK
Jerome Lewis and Slade Blackwell wear shirts community members created in their honor.
By BRITT REDDEN Crestline Elementary janitor Jerome Lewis has something in common with kindergarten student Slade Blackwell — both are undergoing cancer treatments. Crestline staff, students and parents
recently held bake sales, sold wrist bands, set up lemonade stands and collected donations to assist Lewis’ family with travel and medical expenses for his esophageal cancer. As a result of the donations, Lewis’ family will be able to travel to Houston for his upcoming surgery.
32 • June 2013
Village Living