VillageLivingOnline.com
July 2013
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Village Living neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook
Volume 4 | Issue 4 | July 2013
What’s next?
Sarah Simmons may be off The Voice, but this local vocalist has a bright future ahead of her.
Community page 9
To market Meet a few of the members of your community who, knowingly or unknowingly, work daily to define it. See page 10 for our special section.
Long live the Pig
Area residents organize to ensure Crestline’s Piggly Wiggly is here to stay By MADOLINE MARKHAM Village shops are preparing for the return of the annual Market Day this month. Are you?
Community page 18
INSIDE Sponsors ......... 4 City ................... 5 Business .......... 6 Food ................. 8 Community ..... 16 School House.. 21 Sports ............. 24 Faith ................ 28 Celebrations .. 29 Calendar ........ 30
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Billye Curry, who moved to Mountain Brook with her family in 1929, remembers Piggly Wiggly opening in Crestline after the A&P and a Winn Dixie left the area in the 1950s. “I have always depended on the Pig for having the best meat department in town,” she said. “The convenience and the small town atmosphere, the wonderful people, and friendly service make this store my favorite. Many times I have gone in and asked about a product that the manager would be sure to add to the inventory for me. You can’t do better than that.” But now, Curry is concerned about losing her go-to store. Crestline’s only grocery provider is under lease negotiations, and residents have organized to make sure it doesn’t leave. The hubbub started on June 7 when rumor led to the launch of a “Save the Crestline Pig” Facebook page, which amassed more than 4,000 likes over the next four days. In addition, a petition created by “Friends of the Pig” on change.org had 1,036 signatures as of June 18.
See GROCERY | page 27
Mountain Melissa Robinette said sheshe buys groceries from the Crestline Piggly Wiggly MountainBrook Brookresident resident Melissa Robinette said buys groceries from the Crestline Piggly Wigevery day. Without the Pig, she said, said, the byby Chandler Jones. gly every day. Without it, she the village villagewouldn’t wouldn’tbe bethe thesame. same.Photo Photo Chandler Jones.
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A’Mano Gifts (19) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (9) Alabama Power (6) Allstate Insurance - Jay Barker Agency (27) Amy Smith (15) Andrea Carmichael, Inc (27) Mountain Brook Gold All Stars: Grayson Long, Mac Palmer, Walker Ray, Braxton Dean, Pierce Holbert, Thomas Marriott, John Hendry, John Noles, Rob Gillespie, Benjamin Parrott, Tatum Traywick, Daniel Kubiszyn and Alex Roberts. Not pictured: Head coach Jeff Ray, Jack Kubiszyn, Jeff Hendry, Alan Palmer. Photo courtesy of Dee Moore.
Difficult to imagine Editor’s Note By Jennifer Gray There are so many in our community who make a unique contribution and add so much to Mountain Brook and beyond. This month we have featured a few of them in our Faces of Mountain Brook feature. I hope you enjoy reading about their stories as much as we have enjoyed learning them. Know someone else who is a standout in the community? Be sure to tell us about them so we can consider them for our future Faces of Mountain Brook profiles. Like these faces, there are certain businesses that also become institutions and part of the landscape of our City. It’s hard to imagine the Crestline Piggly Wiggly no longer being there. As many of you know, there is the possibility that the Pig in Crestline will no longer be open when its lease is up in November.
This possibility has caused many of us to stop and think about how one business can touch the lives of so many. The Pig is a place to run into friends, catch up on the latest news, meet a group of friends to run, find products from Mountain Brook entrepreneurs, order your holiday turkey or beef tenderloin, and even rent a movie. The Pig celebrates with us when our community shines; I remember the big banner it displayed after Mountain Brook won the basketball state championship. They are even a field trip destination of Crestline students. I believe that this situation has caused many of us, myself included, to remember that the local businesses we frequent are about more than the products or services that they offer or even the convenience of their locations. They are about
Antiquities (26) Bedzzz Express (2) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (15) Briarcliff Shop (22) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (19) Brookdale Place (25) Brookwood Medical Center (11)
relationships. In fact, Aurelia at the Pig probably knows more people in our community than I do! I do not know how this situation will be resolved, and I am sure it is not an easy situation for either party. But I do know that once again it proves just how loyal and tight-knit our city is, how we rally around those in crisis, whether it is a business or a child diagnosed with cancer or one of our own competing on a national TV show like The Voice. We see our neighbors and local businesses as something more. We see them as family. And once again, I am filled with gratitude for our community and the value we place on these relationships.
California Closets (29) Canterbury Gardens (22) Defining Home (25) Dominique V. Backus, D.D.S (27) Eich Plastic Surgery (8) Hufham Orthodontics (23) Indian Springs School (29) Isbell Jewelers (24) Jacqueline DeMarco (28 Lamb’s Ears Ltd (16) Lane Parke - Evson Inc. (7) Little Hardware, Inc (21) Marguerite’s Conceits (19) Mobley & Sons (13) Mosquito Squad of Birmingham (16) Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce (18)
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 Michelle Salem Haynes Keith Richardson Contributing Writers : Kari Kampakis Dale Wisely Caroline Drew Interns : Chandler Jones Intisar Seraaj-Sabree Will Hightower Published by : Village Living LLC
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 Contact Information: Village Living #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 dan@VillageLivingOnline.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: Jennifer@VillageLivingOnline.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
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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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Otey’s (13) Primrose School at Liberty Park (23) RealtySouth (32) Red Mountain Theatre Company (17) Renasant Bank (3) SecondHand Rose (28) Sew Sheri Designs (24) Swoop (21) Taco Mama (17) The Cook Store (21) The Dande Lion (19) The Lingerie Shoppe (19) Thimbles (31) Town and Country (26) Tracy’s Restaurant (15) Village Dermatology (5) Village Park Builders (9)
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City Lane Parke apartment construction on schedule By MADOLINE MARKHAM Construction is on schedule for the new Residences at Lane Parke to open in the spring of 2014. The Mountain Brook Village apartment community will feature 276 units. Dana Caudell, Daniel Corporation’s director of multifamily operations, said Daniel has been receiving three to five phone calls a week from people interested in learning more about the apartments, and about 40 people are now on a list to receive pricing information when it is released. The development’s new website, laneparkeapartments.com, now features a form where interested parties can submit their contact information, desired move-in month and desired floor plan. Associates are checking those submissions daily to add names to a priority list, Caudell said, and will contact them with updates on pricing and other matters. Pricing for the one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans should be released in September or October along with a more interactive website, Caudell said. Also at that time, a property manager should be in place to answer questions for potential tenants. One-bedroom units will start at 681 square feet, two bedrooms at 1,106 square feet, and three bedrooms at 1,433 square feet.
Approximately 60 units will be opened in the spring, and the remaining units will be completed by the fall. Recreation areas will include gardens, a pool, a fitness center with a yoga and stretching room, a clubhouse, a game room, a bark park, community Wi-Fi and access to the new Woodland Park that will border Watkins Branch. The apartments will also boast a cyber café with coffee bar, valet trash service and covered gazebo grilling stations. Covered garages will also be available. Like its predecessor, Park Lane apartments, The Residences will be located within walking distance of Mountain Brook Village retailers and Birmingham Botanical Gardens, as well as the remainder of the 28acre Lane Parke development once it is completed. Also included in this phase of development for Lane Parke, a 100-room Grand Bohemian Hotel and approximately 185,000 square feet of commercial lifestyle retail and office space are scheduled for completion in 2014. Hoar Construction began work on the apartments in January. The development was designed by Atlanta-based Wakefield Beasley & Associates. Goodwyn Mills Cawood, Inc. is the project engineer. Construction financing for the project is being provided by First Commercial Bank.
Crime report Week of May 16-22 Burglary / Residential A residential burglary occurred in the 3600 block of Rockhill Road between May 16-18. Unknown suspect(s) forced open a garage door, entered the residence and stole electronics. A residential burglary occurred in the 2700 block of Pumphouse Road on May 17. Unknown suspect(s) forced open a rear door and entered the residence. Jewelry and silver flatware were stolen. Theft / Motor Vehicle The theft of a motor vehicle occurred on May 21. The vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of 614 Brookwood Village. Week of May 23-30 Burglary / Residential A residential burglary occurred in the 200 block of Richmar Drive between the May 22-23. Unknown suspect(s) forced open a rear door to the residence and entered the residence. The amount of property stolen has not been determined. Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle A UBEV case occurred in the 20 block of Gaywood Circle between May 16-23. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole firearms. Week of May 31-June 6 Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle A UBEV case occurred in the parking lot at 614 Brookwood Village
on June 4. Unknown suspect(s) broke a window on the vehicle and entered the vehicle. There was no property stolen. June 7-12 Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle A UBEV case occurred in the 3200 block of Country Club Road between June 7-8. Unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle and searched the vehicle. There was no property stolen. A UBEV case occurred in the 3800 block of Knollwood Drive between June 9-10. Unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle and stole currency. A UBEV case occurred in the 3800 block of Williamsburg Circle between June 9-10. Unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle and stole a GPS. A UBEV case occurred in the parking lot of the 400 block of Office Park Circle on June 12. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole prescription medication and power tools. A UBEV case occurred in the 4200 block of Sharpsburg Drive between June 11-12. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s vehicle and stole checks and currency. Burglary / Residential A residential burglary occurred in the 4200 block of Abingdon Trail on June 11. Unknown suspect(s) forced open a door at the rear of the residence and entered the residence. Jewelry was stolen. A residential burglary occurred in the 3900 block of Knollwood Drive on June 10. Unknown suspect(s)
forced open a window and entered the residence. The amount of property stolen has yet to be determined. A residential burglary occurred in the 700 block of Euclid Avenue between June 7-10. Unknown suspect(s) forced open a window and entered the residence. Jewelry was stolen. A residential burglary occurred in the 3800 block of Knollwood Drive between June 7-10. Unknown suspect(s) forced open a rear door and entered the residence. Jewelry was stolen. A residential burglary occurred in the 2800 block of Canoe Brook Lane on June 10. Unknown suspect(s) forced open a window and entered the residence. The amount of property stolen has yet to be determined. A residential burglary occurred in the 4000 block of Montevallo Road between June 2-4. Unknown suspect(s) entered the residence and stole a television. Robbery A robbery occurred at the intersection of Wilderness Road at Wilderness Court. Two suspects were apprehended by the Patrol Division. The case is currently under investigation. Theft / Motor Vehicle The theft of a motor vehicle occurred in the 2500 block of Beverly Drive between June 7-8. Unknown suspect(s) stole the victim’s vehicle and the contents of the vehicle. A suspect has been identified, and some of the stolen property has been recovered. -Submitted by Mountain Brook Police Department
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Village Living
Around the Villages Bell accepted to prestigious circus school
grandfathers, dads and boys have gone to Treadwell for decades to get their hair cut. Treadwell opened the barbershop in 1961. Steve Bishop now owns the shop. To contact Treadwell’s Barber Shop, visit 2700 Culver Road or call 8709210.
Annual Otey’s Fest returns
Breena Bell
Breena Bell, a student at Linda Dobbins Dance, has been accepted into the National Circus School Summer Camp. The National Circus School is located in Montreal and is the “feeder” school into the world famous Cirque Du Soleil. Only 23 applicants from all over the world were selected for this summer camp.
Retirement party scheduled for Treadwell JT Treadwell, long-time owner of Treadwell’s Barber Shop in Mountain Brook Village, retired early this summer. A retirement party in his honor is scheduled for July 24. Many Mountain Brook
The annual Otey’s Fest, hosted by Otey’s Tavern, will take place on Saturday, July 27 at 5 p.m. in Otey’s Tavern parking lot in Crestline Village. Proceeds benefit research for a cure for multiple sclerosis. Live music starts at 5 p.m., in addition to various family activities. Otey’s will serve hamburgers and hotdogs, and will have a beer tent on site. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. Tickets may be purchased on ticketbiscuit.com or at Otey’s Tavern, located at 224 Country Club Park. For more call 871-8435.
Bill Ingram Architect now open Bill Ingram Architect has opened in Mountain Brook Village to better serve its large number of Mountain Brook clients, according to owner Bill Ingram. Ingram said the business had been located in Southside for 13 years and wanted to move to a more convenient space. He said he also lives close to the Village.
The company specializes in architecture, garden and interior design. Its new location is at 2732 Cahaba Road. For more, call 324-5599 or visit billingramarchitect.com.
ChamberUpdate Business council leader to speak at Chamber luncheon
Village Dermatology moves locations Village Dermatology recently moved its Mountain Brook office and Skin for Life boutique. It is now situated across the street from the Historic Union Carbide Building at 2900 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook Village. The new location has better parking, a separate pediatric reception area and an on-site pharmacy. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jenny Oakes Sobera opened Village Dermatology in 2008. “We are committed to staying conveniently located in Mountain Brook Village and are thankful to our patients and customers for their support in our continued growth,” Sobera said. Village Dermatology offers medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology for both pediatric and adult patients. In addition to its medical facility, the Mountain Brook location includes the Skin For Life boutique, laser center, and aesthetician services. Sobera’s staff includes Dr. Kristy Curl, board certified dermatologist; Dr. Meg Cherry, board certified dermatologist; and Shelley Winzeler, physician’s assistant. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more call 8779773 or visit villagedermatology.net.
William Canary
The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce will welcome William Canary, president and CEO of Business Council of Alabama, to speak at its quarterly luncheon on July 11. The Business Council of Alabama is the state’s foremost organization working to improve Alabama’s business climate. Canary will speak about how the BCA is working for tax reform, job creation, economic development incentives, ethics reform and improvements in the state’s educational system. “These issues impact each and every business in Alabama, large and small,” said Chamber President Terry Chapman. “No one knows more about what’s going on in Washington and Montgomery than Bill Canary, and here’s a chance to hear his informed remarks.” The event will be held at Park Lane in English Village. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Tickets $25 for members or $30 for nonmembers, and are available at welcometomountainbrook.com or at the door.
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Business Spotlight Read past Business Spotlights at villagelivingonline.com
Fred Astaire Dance Studio
Richard Silver Dancers enjoy a class at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in English Village.
By WILL HIGHTOWER With season 17 of Dancing With the Stars coming on ABC this fall, one thing is certain: ballroom dancing is more popular than ever. And for local Fred Astaire Dance Studio franchise owner Richard Silver, that’s a good thing. “The hardest part of starting to learn how to dance is just walking through the front door of the studio,” Silver said. “Ballroom dancing is easy, it’s fun, and anyone can learn how to dance.” Legendary actor and dancer Fred Astaire founded Fred Astaire Dance Studios in 1947. His studios have spread across the country and attracted some of the best dancers in the country. Silver, however, did not have dancing on his radar until college. “When I was in college, disco was really big,” he said. “It was how everyone was dancing. I wanted to learn more about dancing, so I went and took part in a training program that Fred Astaire offers where they train new instructors. I wasn’t planning on actually being a teacher; I just went for intensive training. But then I discovered how great it is, and so I’ve been with it ever since college.” Silver taught dance in Vestavia with a large staff until his move to his location in English Village in 2009, when he decided that smaller was better. “Now it’s just more about coming into the studio on a daily basis and teaching students how to dance instead of managing a big operation,” Silver said. Silver, who is one of seven national certification coaches for Fred Astaire, teaches all types of ballroom dancing – 16 different types, to be exact. Most students come in as a couple and learn in private lessons, eventually moving to group classes after learning the
basics. Typical lessons last 45 minutes and teach the type of social dancing one would find at The Club or at a wedding. “Over the years, I’ve had younger couples start coming in and using this as a date night,” Silver said. “The median age has dropped. They enjoy it, and it is great exercise. It’s been medically documented that ballroom dancing in particular has a positive effect physically and mentally.” On Monday nights, Silver hosts a practice party at his studio where his students come in and a party atmosphere is simulated. His students get to practice maneuvering on the dance floor and get to enjoy practicing what they have learned. The studio also is partnering with the UAB Preventative Medicine Department to help cancer survivors and their caregivers with the recovery process. After a long process of applying for a grant and screening possible students, the program is set to begin this summer. “In most cancer recovery programs, it has to do completely with the survivors and sort of leaves the caregiver out in the cold,” Silver said. “This will be a collaborative therapy where both of them are involved. It will build confidence and hopefully even help rebuild the relationships. It is the first of its kind in the United States.” Silver credits dancing shows for making ballroom dancing more mainstream. “Ballroom dancing has always been popular, but it’s become more mainstream since Dancing With the Stars,” Silver said. “Because guys like Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith have been on there, more guys are apt to try it. Even if they come in with a bad attitude, for the most part after a lesson they say ‘Well that was kind of fun.’ And what’s better than moving around with a woman in your arms?”
Fred Astaire Dance Studio 600 Olde English Lane Suite 112 879-2669 fredastairebirmingham.com
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Restaurant Showcase
Village Living Read past Restaurant Showcases at villagelivingonline.com
Saw’s Juke Joint By JEFF THOMPSON It seemed like Ore Drink & Dine vanished overnight. One moment, customers were seated in a quiet, upscale atmosphere sipping cocktails, and in the next they were holding cans of Coors and scribbling on the walls. Just like that, the restaurant had a new name, too — an established name. Saw’s Juke Joint, which opened in November 2012, is the third business venture by owner Mike
Wilson. His others are Saw’s Soul Kitchen in Avondale and the original Saw’s BBQ in Edgewood. In 2009, Wilson, a native of North Carolina, was working in the test kitchens for Cooking Light magazine and smoking pork butts as a hobby. He had amassed a demand for his meat, which was soaked in sauce, stored in plastic bags and sold to his coworkers. They encouraged him to open a place of his own, and he wasn’t opposed to the idea. Wilson purchased Broadway BBQ in Edgewood and changed the name to Saw’s, an acronym for his college nickname, Sorry-A** Wilson. He made a menu of only a few items. It included the Stuffed Taters Broadway BBQ was known for, served steaming and spilling over the cantaloupe-size spud, as well as popular items like Saw’s Original Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Smoked Chicken with White BBQ Sauce.
Sure, the Juke Joint menu has these Saw’s staples, but it’s also slathered with towering burgers and soul food – something unfamiliar to the Homewood location but popular for customers of Saw’s in Avondale. Saw’s sandwich selection includes fried toppings like shrimp, oysters, catfish and green tomatoes. It also serves both smoked and Boudin sausage. But the Southern concoction that has brought customers back through the door time and time again is the Pork N Greens. For these, Saw’s starts with a bed of cheese grits, piles on fresh collard greens and pulled pork, and douses the plate in the restaurant’s tangy barbecue sauce. They top it all off with fried onion straws and bring it out on a paper plate that struggles under the weight. A new item that’s found favor – and maybe a permanent spot on the menu – is the Juke Joint’s Sweet Tea Fried
Saw’s Juke Joint serves up burgers, draft beer and more from its Crestline Park location. Photos by Jeff Thompson.
Saw’s Juke Joint 1115 Dunston Ave. 745-3920 Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. facebook.com/SawsJukeJoint
Chicken Sandwich. For this delicacy, Saw’s marinates chicken breasts in sweet tea and pickle brine for 24 hours before frying it up and putting it on a bun. The restaurant also has daily specials made from fresh ingredients, like a Field Pea and Spring Onion Salad, a Cucumber Salad and White Chocolate Cranberry Bread Pudding. It also, unlike other Saw’s locations, offers craft beers on draft, a full bar and live music three nights a week. Shows run Thursdays from 7-10 p.m., Fridays from 9 p.m.-midnight and Saturdays from 5-8 p.m. Wilson said the Juke Joint didn’t launch as a result of his looking to expand, but rather him finding the perfect business partners. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and former Otey’s owner Doug Smith share ownership of the Juke Joint. Wilson said the chance to work with both was too good to pass up, but he added that he has no long-term plans for more growth. “It may take me 10 years or I may never open another one,” he said. “It’s not about the money, it’s about somebody saying to me this sandwich is the best I’ve ever had.”
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A newfound voice
Sarah Simmons on The Voice and what’s to come By CAROLINE DREW Before auditioning for The Voice, Sarah Simmons had never heard of the TV show. In fact, she didn’t even have cable. Now, almost nine months later, she’s a household name. The Mountain Brook native was eliminated on the 22nd episode of the hit TV show, but she doesn’t regret a moment of the journey. “I felt like I was floating the entire time,” she said. “Being on that stage, performing for all those people and knowing that America was watching — it’s a crazy adrenaline rush.” Simmons, 23, said starting with her blind audition she did not encounter an ounce of stage fright. “The first performance was just so exciting, it felt so surreal.” It was this first performance that immediately set Simmons apart as a stand-out on the show. Singing “One of Us” by Joan Osborne showcased her unique ability to go from singing beautiful, endearing high notes to belting with her signature raspy sound. Participating on the show was no easy feat, however. Simmons revealed that the contestants kept up a hectic schedule, working from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with short breaks for lunch and dinner. “One time,” Simmons said, “I recorded the iTunes version of my song at 1:30 a.m.” Always positive, the singer referred to her work-filled days as “busy blessings.” Of course, Simmons did not have to go through these “busy blessings” on her own. She cites friendships
with fellow contestants as one of her favorite parts of the experience. “It’s like a family,” she said. “It’s so calm. We rely on each other because it’s so intense. It’s crazy, but we were going through it together.” Specifically, contestants (and crowd favorites) Judith Hill, Amber Kerrington, and Michelle Chamuel will continue to be close friends of Simmons. As for her coach, Simmons does not doubt her choice. When she auditioned, all four celebrity mentors vied for a chance to work with Simmons, but she ended up picking Adam Levine, front man of popular band Maroon 5. “He didn’t just treat me like a contestant, he treated me like a friend,” she said. “He genuinely cares about me.” Levine remains invested in Simmons post-show career. He has advised her to move to Los Angeles and has expressed interest in signing her to Maroon 5’s label. She also cultivated a friendship with fellow Voice coach and country music
artist Blake Shelton. Simmons said she would run into Shelton backstage where he would often greet her with, “There’s Sarah Simmons, one of my favorite singers in the world.” The fan base that sprung up around Simmons’ time on the show was new territory for the aspiring artist. Still adjusting to the attention and praise she is now receiving, Simmons’ humility shines through her interactions with fans. “I was in this restaurant one night,” she said. “As I walked out of the restroom, this massive group of teenage girls just started screaming. And I was like, ‘Who’s here? What’s going on?’ Then I realized they were screaming about me. And then I started screaming too! When my fans get excited, I get excited.” There’s one fan in particular Simmons will never forget. Her “name twin,” Sarah Ashley Simmons, 8 years old, is battling cancer. After her mom posted on the “Sarah Fights” Facebook page that the young Simmons wished to meet The Voice contestant, it wasn’t long before the two met at the show. “[Sarah Ashley Simmons] got to go to the show and meet all of the coaches and everything.” Simmons said. “She could not express how much that memory means to her, and hopes to continue to bond with her fans.” Throughout her time on the show, signs popped up
2008 Mountain Brook High School graduate Sarah Simmons performs as one of the eight final contestants on The Voice this season. Sarah’s mom and step dad, Peggy and Barry Jones, still reside in Mountain Brook. Photos courtesy of Tyler Golden/NBC.
all around Mountain Brook and Birmingham encouraging people to vote for Simmons, who was born and raised in the area. “I saw pictures of the signs on Facebook,” she said. “That was awesome!” Returning to Birmingham full time, however, is unlikely, she said. “The South is always my home, and I’ll always have to come visit, but for now I believe the best (thing) for me to do is to move out west.” The singer will officially move
to L.A. at the end of July, and she is preparing to record her first album, which will be filled with her own music and lyrics. If she doesn’t end up getting signed by Maroon 5’s label, Simmons is not worried. “If it doesn’t work out with them, I know God has something better.” All of Simmons’ performances from The Voice can be found on YouTube and purchased on iTunes. You can also follow her on Twitter at @SarahSimMusic.
VILLAGE PARK BUILDERS
Congrats to Dr. Sobera and on the new location. Thanks for letting us be a part of the project. Philip Houston • Hunter Houston www.villageparkbuilders.com 205.802.1818
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Village Living
A look at the members of your community who help define it
T
here are well-known – and unknown – people who give Mountain Brook its appeal, representing the City by their everyday actions. On the pages to follow, we highlight a few of these people and how they are shaping different parts of our community. Some are faces you will know, others might work so far behind the scenes that they are unfamiliar at first glance. But all of them make our City what it is. They might have formal titles,
but what stuck out about each of them is the spirit they bring to neighborhoods, schools and wherever they go in Mountain Brook. Suggest more Faces of Mountain Brook In choosing whom to feature in this section, we knew one thing: this list would only be a small start in highlighting the many faces behind Mountain Brook. We plan to feature many more in issues to come, so please send us your ideas for faces to feature in the future.
Is it someone from your child’s school? Is it an extracurricular coach? Is it a quiet volunteer, someone with no “official” title at all, humbly doing his or her part to keep Mountain Brook at its best? Email your nominees for future Faces of Mountain Brook to Jennifer@VillageLivingOnline. com. Please include the person’s name, professional affiliation, if applicable, and a brief description of why you think he or she is a Face of Mountain Brook.
Margaret Porter Former Mayor of Mountain Brook, Community Builder Age: 62 – Life-long resident of Mountain Brook Margaret Porter’s list of accomplishments in Mountain Brook could fill an entire book. Although many people know her as the first female mayor of the city, taking office in 1996, her resume extends far beyond just that title. After developing the Crestline Tot Lot at age 27, Porter served as vice chairman of the Steering Committee that developed the Athletic Complex at the High School. She was a Park Board member for nine years, and as Park Board Chairman she advocated for the establishment of the park and recreation department for the city. Porter served on City Council from 1984-1996 and was the Council liaison to the Board of Education those years. She was elected mayor after her stint as city council pro tem and city council president. “I loved my years of service to the City of Mountain Brook because I am a community builder at heart,” Porter said. “It gives me great pleasure to build public-private partnerships and to network individuals who have the knowledge, skills and passion to enhance the quality of life in our community. We are blessed with many strong institutions and programs in Mountain Brook, and it is the responsibility of our generation to protect and enhance them for future generations.” Outside of Mountain Brook, Porter has another extensive list of accomplishments, including being chairman of the board of McWane Science Center for five years, during which time $43 million was raised to make it a reality. She has served as president of the Junior League of Birmingham, board chairman of the Literacy Council of Central Alabama, and board chairman of Children’s of Alabama from 20022003. She is currently on executive committee for Children’s. Porter served as co-chair of UAB’s Comprehensive Campaign that raised $389 million from 1999-2003, on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham for nine years, and on the Russell Corporation Board of Directors for nine years as the chairman of the Corporate Responsibility Committee. The Mountain Brook native is also a graduate of Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama.
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VillageLivingOnline.com
Slade Anderson Cancer Patient with a Village Behind Him Age: 7 – Life-long resident of Mountain Brook Slade Anderson was diagnosed with leukemia in November of 2012 and has spent much time at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Instead of just feeling bad for the 7-year-old boy and his family, the community has formed a powerful “Team Slade” to support them. “Slade said to me, ‘Mimi, you know I’m a star!’” Slade’s grandmother Debbie Anderson said. “The village has made him feel good about being sick. I have seen him smile time and time again. He would get so excited when a package arrived at the hospital.” Companies across this community have pitched in to raise support for Slade. Taco Mama named a burrito after him. Sugar, Mobley & Sons and the Pants Store all have Team Slade T-shirts. Once Upon A Time sent him The University of Alabama pajamas just in time for the national championship game. “I want to drop on my knees and give thanks that my children are surrounded by the ‘village,’” Anderson said. “I want to hug everyone. Just saying thank you will never convey how appreciative we are. Mountain Brook defines the line ‘it takes a village!’ What an amazing place to live. We want everyone to know we feel the love and prayers.” Slade has gotten a letter from George W. Bush; signed footballs from Eli Manning, Nick Saban, and Johnny Manziel; and a happy birthday tweet from A.J. McCarron. He also traveled to New York to shoot a St. Jude commercial with Marlo Thomas. “All of these kind, kind gestures have brought some comfort to Slade,” Anderson said. “As he told me, being sick is 50 percent good and 50 bad. Fifty percent good is about all the presents and fun. The 50 percent bad is the medicine and the procedures.”
12 • July 2013
Village Living
Bucky McMillan
Varsity Basketball Coach at Mountain Brook High School Age: 29 – Lifelong resident of Mountain Brook Before 2001, Mountain Brook had never had a team in the final four of the state basketball championship. Bucky McMillan changed that as the star point guard for the 2001 team. Before 2013, the Spartans had never won a state basketball championship. Once again, Bucky McMillan changed that as the team’s head coach, leading the Spartans to their first state championship in March. It’s safe to say that McMillan has had a huge impact on basketball in this community. “Basketball is my venue to reach kids,” McMillan said. “Kids here have good parents, and so they have great character and know that hard work pays off. I don’t have to teach them that, which is a tribute to their upbringing. We don’t have many attitude problems.” McMillan moved to Mountain Brook at age 4 and has been involved with basketball here ever since. After a hugely successful high school career, McMillan played at Birmingham-Southern College under Duane Reboul. He coached Mountain Brook AAU and OTM teams while at school, and became the JV coach after graduation. Now, after five years as head varsity coach, the 29-year-old has led the program to new heights as state champions. “Here, I get to influence kids all the way from second grade through high school,” McMillan said. “I like to instill toughness in them because that’s not always synonymous with Mountain Brook. People know we will be smart and have character, but I like to add toughness to that list.”
June Emory Community Activist
Age: 92 – Crestline resident since 1940 June Emory has more than given back to her community over the years. Between helping found St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a stint on the Board of the American Red Cross and working as the women’s Chairman for the National Veteran’s Day Celebration, Emory has helped shape Mountain Brook into what it is today. Even though she has been working for this community since she moved to Crestline in 1940, Emory is still active these days, attending every City Council meeting and providing valuable input. “Mountain Brook is one of the most underrated communities in the world,” Emory said. “I love it. When I would bring people in for National Veteran’s Day, they were amazed by the beauty we have here. Every member of the City Council is just wonderful – we have a wonderful government here, along with a fine police and fire department. I didn’t grow up here, but Mountain Brook is my home.” Emory still resides in the house she built with her husband in 1940 on Dexter Avenue. She almost moved several times, but claims she would be lonely if she lived anywhere else. “Dexter is a little world of its own,” Emory said. “You have joggers, walkers, mommas pushing babies and the biggest Halloween crowds in Mountain Brook.” Emory also volunteered at the Birmingham Museum of Art for 51 years, served as president of Crestline PTA and, during World War II, served as a Gray Lady at Hillman Hospital and as a volunteer Air Raid Warden.
July 2013 • 13
VillageLivingOnline.com
Kenneth Harkless Guidance Counselor for Mountain Brook Schools Age: 62 – 25 years of shaping young minds Mountain Brook schools are known as some of the safest in the state, and part of the credit for that goes to Kenneth Harkless, the longtime K-12 counselor for the Mountain Brook School System. Harkless has worked for Mountain Brook for 25 years, primarily at the high school. “My role as a school counselor is to be available, primarily, to assist in making the journey through school as safe and successful as possible,” Harkless said. “Hopefully, I serve as a safe and confidential resource for students, parents and other adults who need assistance with matters that can potentially impact not only academic performance, but also personal life and potential. It is important for me to be a good listener. Sometimes giving guidance and direction. At other times I need to be encouraging, helping others to find their voice.” Harkless also trains runners for the Mercedes Marathon, is a contract coach for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training, and attends Worship Center Christian Church. “I have enjoyed widespread community support in my work, which often requires pulling together numerous resources to address a need,” Harkless said. “Mountain Brook is not only blessed with many resources, but is one of the most giving communities I’ve ever encountered.”
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14 • July 2013
Village Living
Anne Womack
Executive Director of the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation Age: 28 – Life-long resident of Mountain Brook You don’t have to have lived a long life in Mountain Brook to make an impact, as Anne Womack is showing. “I’m thankful to be a product of this community and even more thankful to have the opportunity to return home and serve it to the best of my ability,” Womack said. Womack is the executive director of the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation. The Foundation, made up of 36 dedicated Board members who are all active in the community, plays a huge role in the success of the community’s schools. Since 1995, the Foundation has given more than $4 million to the Mountain Brook School System for technology, professional development, and library enhancement. Womack, after growing up in Mountain Brook and attending Auburn University, is dedicating her career to serving the community. “It’s so easy to serve a community where people are so engaged,” Womack said. “Teachers, administrators, parents and students all want to be a part of continuing to pursue excellence in our schools. Beyond that, the Chamber, city government, local merchants and residents all come together in a way that I’ve never seen in any other community. That collaborative spirit and joint desire to see this community succeed on all cylinders is what makes it so special.”
Allene Neighbors
Director of Development at PreSchool Partners Age: 30 – Life-long resident of Mountain Brook In 1995, two Mountain Brook residents started PreSchool Partners for at-risk children from the Norwood and Whatley communities. Today, Allene Neighbors is one of several residents on its staff who work to equip 70 children, ages three and four, each year with the skills necessary to begin kindergarten. In addition to teaching reading, numbers, shapes and colors, the program also focuses on general behavior, computer skills, music, art and dance. Parents of the children are required to attend life skills meetings as a part of the partnership. As director of development, Neighbors spends her time working with corporations, donors and volunteers to ensure that PreSchool Partners educates the future leaders of Birmingham to the best of their abilities. She also plans the Food Truck Roundup fundraiser and is the organizer behind a Crestline Rocks concert event in the works for September. “In working with Mountain Brook residents on behalf of PreSchool Partners, we are all enriched in the experience of helping others build better lives,” Neighbors said. In addition to her position with PreSchool Partners, Neighbors, a Crestline resident, is a member at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, serves on the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Young Supporters Board, and is part of the Ballet Guild. “I love serving Mountain Brook because I was born and raised here and am raising my family here, too,” Neighbors said. “I am thankful for the positive influence my hometown has given me, and I want the same for my children and future generations as well.”
July 2013 • 15
VillageLivingOnline.com
Sam Gaston City Manager
Age: 56 – 20 years as City’s executive officer As the city manager of Mountain Brook, Sam Gaston oversees a sizable operation. Gaston runs the day-to-day functions of city government, working with department heads, the City Council and the mayor to make sure ordinances and policies are carried out. He has worked in the position for 20 years. “I have the best city manager job in the nation,” Gaston said. “It has gone by fast. It’s a pleasure to work with such talented department heads. Our mayor and Council have been gracious to me over the years. I have been able to work with great people to keep Mountain Brook as one of the premiere cities in the South.” In his role for the city, Gaston also prepares the city’s budget and submits it to the Council for approval. Outside of his role as city manager, Gaston, who grew up in Russellville, serves as a board member of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce and on the Mountain Brook Planning Commission. The Auburn graduate also served as president of the Homewood/Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club and is still currently a member. “This city is a special place, and I get to work with some great people to keep it that way,” Gaston said.
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16 • July 2013
Village Living
Community Scouts improve community, rise in rank James Cole Hopkins James Cole Hopkins earned the rank of Eagle Scout on in February at the Vulcan District Board of Review. He is a member of Troop 320 at Mountain Brook Presbyterian. James started his scouting career with Pack 63 in the first grade and advanced through Cub Scouts to earn its highest award, The Arrow of Light and then joined Troop 320. While a member of Troop 320, he was tapped into the scouts’ most prestigious honor society, James Cole Hopkins and John Edward Sisson The Order of the Arrow. James also earned the Triple Crown Ahead Foundation as well as a counselor in Award given for participating in all three scout high training for Falling Creek Camp in Tuxedo, N.C. adventure trips to Sea Base, Bahamas, Philmont, James is also active in Big Time Ministries and New Mexico and Northern Tier, Canada. his senior high Episcopal youth Bible study, His Eagle Scout project was to refurbish and serves as a church acolyte for the Cathedral and restore a LATH House at the Birmingham Church of the Advent. James comes from a very Botanical Gardens, where his mother and long line of scouts and leaders, including his great grandmother are tour docents. This project gives uncle, Winning A. Currie, who has a chapel at a place for plants to grow and acclimate to the Scout Camp Sequoya named in his honor. James’ outside environment before they are planted out uncle also serves as a scout leader with Troop 63. in the gardens. An avid hunter and fisherman, James’ scouting With the help of family members, friends, career has enriched his love for the outdoors. He is neighbors and other scouts, James repaired the the son of Marguerite and Peter Hopkins. roof, replaced sections of rotten wood and built a new wooden perimeter around the house. Also, new support beams were added; floors were John Edward Sisson cleared, leveled and graveled with new weed mats John Edward Sisson earned the rank of installed; and an overhead irrigation system was Eagle Scout from the Vulcan District Eagle installed. The project totaled 238 hours of work Board in March. and was also highlighted in the Birmingham He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 63 Botanical Gardens yearly staff meeting. at Canterbury Methodist Church, under the James attends Mountain Brook High School. leadership of Harold Wells Jr. A Court of Outside of school, he served several times as a Honor ceremony was held in April to recognize special needs camp counselor for the Full Life
Sisson’s achievements. For his Eagle service project, Sisson built a garden shed for the community garden at East Lake United Methodist Church. This community garden serves the surrounding East Lake neighborhood. As a member of Troop 63, John earned 22 merit badges. He attended Sewanee Scout Leadership School and served as patrol leader, quartermaster, and most recently as senior patrol leader. Sisson is a rising junior at Mountain Brook High School where he plays on the baseball team and runs cross country. He is a member of Key Club Service organization and is a member of the Sword and Shield newspaper staff. Sisson is an active member of Canterbury United Methodist Church youth group and serves on its LEAD team. John is the son of Leigh Ann and Tommy Sisson. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Caldwell and the late Mr. Joe Alexander, and the grandson of Mrs. Laura B. Sisson and the late Dr. Jerry E. Sisson and Mrs. Martha Ann Sisson.
Ford’s Eagle Scout service project involved building and installing two information kiosks at Birmingham’s Red Mountain Park, one at the park entrance and one at the #13 mine. In addition to his scouting activities, Ford is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Key Club and the Mountain Brook High School varsity tennis team. Ford is the son of Mary Beth and Carlton Wood. He is the grandson of Glenda Alexander Parker Dendy of Tuscaloosa and the late David O. Parker Jr. and Carlton E. Wood Jr. of Huntley, Ill., and the late Patricia Waite Wood
Carlton ‘Ford’ Wood Carlton “Ford” Wood of Troop 63 at Canterbury United Methodist Church has achieved the highest rank in Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout. As a scout, Ford has served as troop chaplain and patrol leader and was inducted in the Order of the Arrow. He also attended two Boy Scout High Adventure camps, where he backpacked at at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and canoed the boundary waters between Minnesota and Canada at Northern Tier.
Eagle Scout Ford Wood, Red Mountain Park Executive Director David Dionne and Red Mountain Park Ranger Eric McFerrin at the dedication of an information kiosk at the entrance to the park.
July 2013 • 17
VillageLivingOnline.com
Fresh faces come to Women’s Committee of 100
Carleton Ambrose, Lynn Cassady, Taylor Davis, Kendall Eagan, Anne Heppenstall, Kathy Hoskins, Rebecca Mason and Carla Roberson.
New Women’s Committee of 100 members Sandra Holley, Gail Pugh, Jeanie Box, Gayle Byrne and Sandi Gornati.
Elouise Williams introduced seven new members at the Women’s Committee of 100 Guest Day recently at the home of Carolyn Featheringill. Recipients included Jean Ann Box, Ed. D., Gayle Byrne, Amy Murphy and Gail Pugh of Mountain Brook; Sandi Gornati of Hoover; Sandra Bonds Holley of Vestavia; and Jodi Newton, Ed.D of Homewood. President Carolyn Satterfield presented each new member with a certificate and ribbon, while publicly highlighting their background and accomplishments. Anne Kidd and Katherine
McTyeire, both former organization presidents, were honored with member emeritae status while several family members watched. Annie Green’s Guest Day Committee providing delicious refreshments included Bet Wright, Sara Sistrunk, Anna Keith, Nan Teninbaum, Jean Liles, Dorothy Hodges, Lyndra Daniel, Mary Wyatt and Nelda Pugh. Dorothy McDaniel created colorful floral centerpieces. The goals of this organization are to utilize the knowledge, abilities and skills of its members to increase knowledge and help improve Greater Birmingham and Alabama.
Linly Heflin Unit welcomes new members The Linly Heflin Unit welcomed its newest members during its May meeting at the Country Club of Birmingham. Carleton Ambrose, Lynn Cassady, Taylor Davis, Kendall Eagan, Anne Heppenstall, Kathy Hoskins, Rebecca Mason, Jackie Pierce and Carla Roberson, all of Birmingham, will add to the talent pool of the service organization founded in 1919. The nine new members will start work immediately on the 55th Annual Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show. Since 1923 the major focus of the group has been to further the higher education of young
women in Alabama. Through the years more than 3,500 four-year scholarships totaling more than $2 million have been awarded to deserving recipients. Scholarship Committee Chairs Suzanne Chenoweth and Caroline Thomas announced 28 scholarships and two grants were awarded for fall admissions this year. These young women will be attending ten different institutions of higher learning in Alabama. Currently a total of 97 women are receiving Linly Heflin Scholarships. The annual Linly Heflin Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show continues to be the primary
fundraiser for its scholarship program. This year the event is set for Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel Civic Center Ballroom. Co-Chairs Elizabeth Hubbard and Sumner Starling announced Nha Khanh, a fashion firm based in Dallas and New York City and headed by designer Khanh Nguyen, will present its 2013 Fall/ Winter Collection at the luncheon. Birmingham clothier Gus Mayer will again partner with the Linly Heflin Unit and provide additional fashions. Last year’s luncheon and fashion show was attended by more than 1,000 guests.
Voted
BEST OF MOUNTAIN BROOK Village Living 2013 Best Mexican Food
18 • July 2013
Village Living
July 20th Participating Mountain Brook Village merchants for Market Day include Hannon Davidson of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, Mary Anne Glazner of Smith’s Variety, Amanda Thames of Davenport’s Pizza Palace, Brenda Meadows of The Lingerie Shoppe, Gigi Redmon of A Tiny Kingdom, Wesley Lassen of The Cook Store, Marin Zanotti of A’Mano, Connie Long of The Dande Lion and Ricky Bromberg of Bromberg’s.
A sea of sales By MADOLINE MARKHAM Mountain Brook’s European street-style sale of sales will return to Mountain Brook Village this month. The annual Market Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 20 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The tent sale features discounts up to 75 percent off from retailers throughout the Village. Once again Marguerite’s Conceits will open its $10 tent, which features bags, soaps, scarves, jewelry and other gifts for $10 each. “I enjoy going to all the different shops,”
said Suzan Doidge, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce executive director. “It’s a great opportunity to get together with your friends and neighbors and enjoy a great time in a festive area. There’s something for someone of every age.” Along with merchandise sales, the restaurants of Mountain Brook Village will be open to feed hungry shoppers. JAMM Entertainment will also provide music. For more information, visit welcometomountainbrook.com.
Mountain Brook Village merchants set up sale tents at last year’s Market Day.
VillageLivingOnline.com
July 2013 • 19
July 20th
Summer Linen Sale!
20-75% OFF all Bed Linens!!! July 1st-20st
2406 Canterbury road • Mtn. brook Village • 879.2730
and back by popular demand...
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summerjammies by BedHead
T H E L I NG E R I E S H O P P E M O U N T A I N B R O O K V I L L A G E 2 0 5 . 8 7 1 . 8 9 9 4
20 • July 2013
Village Living
A showstopping performance Seussical the Musical performers sing “Oh the Thinks You Can Think”: Kathryn Mussell (Mayzie), Michael Mancuso (blue fish), Champ Lyons (red fish), Bradley Pinson (Grinch), David Windsor (Lorax), Carl Albright (Seuss), George Terry (Thing 1), Harrison Little (Thing 2), Massey Jordan (mayor’s wife), Walton Bedell (Mayor), Fuller Priestly (Sam I Am), Paul Tyson (Yertle the Turtle), Augusta Yearout (purple boa), Ella Lukens (Sneetch), Anna Brooks Crane (Cindy Lou Hoo) and Elise Druhot (Sneetch).
BY HILARY ROSS Graduating sixth graders at Mountain Brook Elementary performed songs from various Broadway musicals before the year ended. The students were under the direction of music teacher Shari Dorsett. Selections included songs from High School Musical, The Lion King and Seussical the Musical, among others. Students sang and danced before a full auditorium of family, friends and faculty.
Lion King performers sing “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”: Hampton Walker, Jake Gilbert, Ruthie Jolly, Edwin Fan, Christopher Thagard, Emma Lindsey, Vale Lightfoot, Mallie Reed, Daniel Wilbanks, Steven Jinnette, Christian Fischer, Jay Barze, Jakob Fridy, Drew McGill and Gilbert Amason.
“Getcha Head in the Game” basketball stars from High School Musical: Rob Jolly, Robert Ree, Fred Lindsey, James Gillespy, Reed Miller, Cardwell Spencer, Zach McLean, and David Marshall. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Gillespy.
Parenting and Family with Dr. Dale Wisely Could we be overdoing this “teenage brain” thing? In the last eight or nine years, we have been hearing about the teenage brain. What we now all are told is that teenagers’ brains are not fully developed until sometime in the mid-20s, on average. We have heard about studies that suggest adolescent brains are wired to engage in risky behavior such as drug use, reckless driving or unsafe sex. We have come to believe that teenagers, as a group, are impulsive and incapable of sound decisions. I have passed on some of this information but without much enthusiasm. Something has bugged me about the “adolescent brain” movement from the beginning. I have struggled to digest the science in this area, but somehow I have never been able to get over the feeling that, to some extent, teenagers are not getting a fair shake. I can identify some of the things that have been bothering me. There is something about this idea that reminds me of some extremely unfortunate times in our history (and sometimes our present), when we have made broad, generalized statements about whole groups of people. I think many of us have learned that statements made broadly about
groups of people are often inspired by bigotry. What often is left out of the “teen brain” rhetoric is the miracle of individual differences. I have met many, many teenagers who are not impulsive, not prone to take undue risks and who are remarkably mature in their judgments. I have met teenagers who I would even regard as wise people. In our own community, we see all around us evidence of teenagers who are already accomplishing amazing things. One wonders how that could happen if it is true, as we are prone to believe, that teenage brains are so undeveloped that they are all inherently reckless and impulsive. US News & World Report ran a report on the adolescent brain a few years ago featuring a cartoon that had some fun with this issue. It was a cross-section of a teen brain with a fanciful map of the innards. The “emotions” area was enormous. The “common sense” area was tiny. The mouth was labeled “smart mouth.” I think there was a “snarky gland.” Maybe that’s funny, maybe not. But, I wonder how I would feel
looking at that if I were a teenager. Another concern I have is the adolescent brain research might cause many of us to conclude that teenagers have cornered the market on impulsive or dumb behavior. A moment’s reflection on the behavior of some of the adults we know will help us get over that. I gave a talk recently to 150 teenagers at a local private school, and to illustrate this point, I put up a picture of the man who had Mitt Romney’s campaign logo tattooed on his face. As I often tell audiences in the teen driving talks I give, a quick glance at the adult drivers on Highway 280 ought to relieve us of the idea that only teenagers are capable of careless or reckless behavior. NPR’s website recently had a story which provided some refreshing perspective. “Adolescent brains have gotten a bad rap, according to neuroscientists,” the author writes. “It’s true that teenage brains can be impulsive, scientists reported at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans. But
adolescent brains are also vulnerable, dynamic and highly responsive to positive feedback, they say. ‘The teen brain isn’t broken,’ says Jay Giedd, a child psychiatry researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health. He says the rapid changes occurring in the brains of teenagers make these years ‘a time of enormous opportunity.’” The article goes on to present data that counters the idea of nearly universal impulsivity among youth. I don’t think we should throw out the research on the developing teenage brain. I have certainly cited it more than once as a reason teenagers ought to avoid alcohol. But, I think we should maintain some perspective and consider the danger of being disrespectful in the way we discuss this information with our teenagers. 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 your
Taking home the honors Three business students at Mountain Brook High School were recognized at the May Mountain Brook Board of Education meeting. Bo Luttrell, Jake Fleischer and Tillman Drew received first place in the state for FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) competition in the Marketing division. Teachers Jill Covington, Amber Benson and Jill Bertella sponsor FBLA at the high school.
Jill Covington speaks about the accomplishments of Bo Luttrell, Jake Fleischer and Tillman Drew.
VillageLivingOnline.com
July 20th
July 2013 • 21
School House
Longtime MBE teachers retire
Nonnie Roby, Suzy Notarianni, Barbara Brewster and Pam Baugh retired from MBE this year.
By HILARY ROSS Four educators from Mountain Brook Elementary retired this year: Barbara Brewster, second grade; Pam Baugh and Suzy Notarianni, sixth grade; and Nonnie Roby, library media center assistant. I had the chance to collect their thoughts on MBE and retirement as school was ending. All four will be sorely missed. Barbara Brewster taught almost every elementary grade over 30 years, taking a break to raise a family, continuing her education, and later returning to teach. The past 11 years at MBE, Brewster instructed third, then fifth, and finally second grade. One of her favorite memories at MBE was when her son, a U.S. Marine, came to the Veteran’s Day musical program dressed in his formal
blues and walked to the front of the auditorium during the Marine anthem. With trembling hands and tears in her eyes, Barbara pinned the American flag to his lapel. Suzy Notarianni has taught for 37 years, the last six at MBE. Her favorite memory of MBE was when Superintendent Dicky Barlow recognized her and remembered her name. No other school system where she worked had an administration that took such an interest in the staff to recall names, she said. She plans to move to the Garden District of New Orleans, stroll the neighborhoods, and take real estate courses to obtain a license to sell homes there. Pam Baugh has taught 26 years, though not consecutive, due to a 10-year break when she raised her own children
SALE
and volunteered in the community. Seventeen of her years teaching were at MBE as the sixth grade science teacher. She has also taught high school grade biology and physical science. Her favorite memory of teaching is seeing how everyone grows up and makes their way in the world. After retiring, Pam will be a docent at the Birmingham Museum of Art and also spend time working on her farm with bees and sunflowers. For 20 years Nonnie Roby worked in the library at MBE. Her favorite memory is when the whole school went to the zoo as a reward for reading. Her retirement plans include having fun with her two grandchildren, spending more time with her 93-year-old mother, and traveling with her husband.
20% OFF Sale July 19th-27th
(some exclusions apply - see store for details)
Market Day in the Village Sat, July 20th
Open early 8am - 10am for additional 10% OFF (some exclusions apply - see store for details)
2841 Cahaba Road • 879-5277 Mon-Fri 10-5 • Sat 10-4 www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com all sales final! no returns! No gift wrap!
Wilson accepts superintendent position; to leave MBHS In June, the Hartselle City Schools Board of Education approved Dr. Paul “Vic” Wilson as its new superintendent, marking the end of Wilson’s five years as principal of Mountain Brook High School. Contract negotiations were expected to wrap up by the end of June. Wilson said he was eagerly anticipating starting his new role, but added he was aware much will be left behind in order to do so. “It was a very difficult decision for me,” Wilson said. “It is a great new leadership opportunity, to be a superintendent, but there are so many people here that I’ve grown close to and am excited to see every day. It’s going to be tough not working with them anymore.” Wilson, who was one of three finalists for the job, Vic Wilson first served at Mountain Brook as assistant principal from 2002-2006. Following two years at Homewood High School as principal, he returned to Mountain Brook in 2008. As Wilson moves away from Mountain Brook, he said he thinks Mountain Brook schools are in a great position to continue to grow. “I’d say that’s my hope, but I don’t think that’s a strong enough word,” he said. “It’s my belief. I have never worked in a place where I felt everyone was on same page like they are in Mountain Brook. It’s one of the best places in world to work, and I want to say thank you. Thanks for the chance to lead for five years in one of the greatest communities in the world.” – From Staff Reports
22 • July 2013
Carnival time at Cherokee Bend
Village Living
Hands-on learning By CATHERINE BODNAR “Mini courses” at Cherokee Bend Elementary recently offered handson experience learning and guest speakers for sixth graders. This year’s courses included building your own go-cart, archery, learning the lost art of card playing, robotics, sewing, knitting, photography, acting, drawing, geocaching, babysitting with CPR certification and video game production. A military course was also offered where MBJH Vice Principal Derek Dearman shared his personal experience regarding the Navy and Army National Guard. Parents Debby Shunnarah and Kristy Harrison organized the courses.
Front row: Kathleen Webb, John Webb, Drew Bodnar, Alaina Long. Back row: Addison Tierney, Garrett Long, Grayson Long, Breese Tierney.
Front row: Katie Habeeb, Elly McCullumsmith, Julia Baddley, Anna Littleton, Lucy Woodke, Betsy Edwards, Anna Rose Alexander. Back row: Jayna Esquivel, Eleanor Kerr, Virginia Grammas, Anna Hoyt, Mary Todd Curington, Mary Cameron McLean, Alex Prelipcean.
By CATHERINE BODNAR Cherokee Bend Elementary held its annual spring carnival in May. This year’s theme was “What is Your Super Power?” The festivities took place on the school’s fields. Students enjoyed a variety of booths such as punk hair, twin spin and cakewalk, as well as inflatables. Concession food was offered, and the snow cones were a huge hit. Piggly Wiggly at River Run toward donated a cookie decorating booth and many concession items. The students enjoyed having the Boosterthon Team return to the school to play music. Incoming kindergarten students for 2013-2014 were invited to attend with their parents. Kimberly Long served as chair, and Ashley Tierney and Ginny Webb were co- chairs. Catherine Bodnar designed the Carnival T-shirts worn by the students and faculty.
Sixth graders learned to make their own go carts as part of a mini course thanks to donations from Home Depot on U.S. 280. Front row: Gavin Lee, Parker Statham. Back row: Zach Shunnarah, Tommy Ingle, William Brown, Will Christopher, Phillip Gaut, Caroline Chamoun, Cami Curtis
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July 2013 • 23
VillageLivingOnline.com
A rockin’ good time for Forest Fling By ALISON JAMES The weather was beautiful for Brookwood Forest Elementary’s annual field game and fun day, Forest Fling. This year’s theme was “Have a Rockin’ Good Time.” Students enjoyed game booths, snow cones, popcorn, inflatables and a climbing wall. Some of the favorite booths were colored hair spray, face painting, nail painting and “Fake a Break” where students put bandages on imaginary injuries. Airbrush tattoos were new this year and a huge hit, as well as the “Free the Beast” booth where boys and girls tried to find the correct key to unlock the cage and free the stuffed animal. Caroline Peek’s second grade class was the winner of the box top competition and got to come out and enjoy Forest Fling 30 minutes earlier than the rest of the school. Major sponsors of 2013 Forest Fling were: Advanced Internal Medicine Sharon Chaney MD, Classic Flooring Inc., Cory Watson Crowder DeGaris, Piggly Wiggly, Today’s Harvest, Y MediaWorks, Bridget Sikora- Realty South, Great Smiles Orthodontics, KGS Steel Inc., Tempstar Heating and Cooling, and In Memory of Colonel Frank Reese Pound Jr. Renee Fenn chaired this year’s event. Committee members were Lisa Bebenek, Mary Virginia Gardner, Natalie Gillespie, Maurine Halpern, Adrian Hughes, Jennifer Nemet, Elizabeth Long, Amy Sanders, Bridget Sikora, Ellen Stein, Pamela Windsor, Elaine Yeager, Tracy Cron, Leslie Armstrong, Desiree Key, Laura Kunze, Keely Culpepper and Nancy Thomason.
Field day fun at Crestline
Isabel Smith and Ella Emblom.
Above: Addison Wint, Sara Allen Brown and Lauren Jones get their nails painted in a booth at Forest Fling. Below: Students enjoy tasty treats during the Forest Fling.
By BRITT REDDEN Each year, Crestline Elementary students end the school year with Field Day on the last day of school. Students dress in their class color and participate in games and relay races with their friends. Parents come and cheer on the students as they participate in the friendly competition. It is a fun way to celebrate another great year at school.
Proud to be Gold Level supporters of Crestline Elemantary for the last 10 years. Serving the Crestline Village area since 2001
24 • July 2013
Village Living
Sports Mountain Brook native wins NCAA tennis championship By WILL HIGHTOWER Mac Styslinger has been known to be a talented tennis player. But few could have predicted the success he has had in his freshman year at college. The Mountain Brook native won the NCAA doubles championship for the University of Virginia Cavaliers after helping the team win its first-ever NCAA national championship. And to cap that off, Styslinger and his doubles partner, Jarmere Jenkins, secured a wild-card berth in the U.S. Open, which will take place later this summer. “I have loved my experience at Virginia,” Styslinger said. “This year has been incredible with all the success we have had.” Since his hiring, Cavalier head coach Brian Boland has brought the program from an average ACC team to a consistent national contender. After multiple close losses in the national finals, the team’s first national championship came in Styslinger’s freshman year. It is the first national championship for any ACC school. “The team championship was definitely more exciting to me than the doubles championship,” Styslinger said. “No one was thinking about individual things going into the tournament; it was all about the team and the team championship.” The doubles championship, however, was what really thrust Styslinger into the national spotlight. Styslinger partnered with Jenkins, a senior, to come back against Texas in the finals. They won the last set 6-4 to close out the title. “The doubles championship was really cool because it was Jarmere’s final match in college,” Styslinger said. “I didn’t know him before I got to Virginia, but we roomed together on trips and became pretty good friends. He was the leader of our team. Hopefully I can take some of the things I learned from him while playing doubles into next year playing singles.”
If the NCAA doubles champions are American, the U.S. Open invites them to compete. The U.S. Open is one of the four major tennis tournaments each year, meaning Styslinger and Jenkins will be competing against the best tennis players in the world come August. “I’m looking forward to it,” Styslinger said. “I’m not nervous at all. Maybe I’ll be nervous when I get there or something, but right now I feel like I have nothing to lose.” The tennis star is not new to the big stage. He has played in the junior version of every Grand Slam event. Styslinger attended the world-famous IMG Bollettieri Academy in Florida during high school, and learned under the tutelage of the best coaches in the world. Tennis stars such as Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, and Venus and Serena Willimas are graduates of the school. Styslinger, whose father Mark played tennis at Southern Methodist University, was a relative unknown on the tennis circuit before his performance at the Junior Australian Open in 2011. Against the odds, he played his way into the quarterfinals of the tournament, catching the eye of college scouts across the country. His chose to play for the Cavaliers over many other offers. “Virginia had been in contact with me for a long time,” Styslinger said. “I just loved it when I went up there to visit, and I loved the coaches.” The typical thing to do for a tennis athlete who has experienced the level of success Styslinger has is to go pro and forego the rest of college. For now though, Styslinger is happy at Virginia, planning to stay and major in economics as he begins his sophomore year in the fall. “I’m definitely getting better as a tennis player,” Styslinger said. “I don’t feel any need to rush anything. I’m getting a great education here at Virginia, and I have loved it here.”
Mac Styslinger. Photo courtesy of University of Virginia Athletics.
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July 2013 • 25
VillageLivingOnline.com
MBJH boys named National Lacrosse All-Americans By ELIZABETH FARRAR
Zachary Carroll, Sean Doud, Sterling DeRamus and John Annesley DeGaris.
Mountain Brook Junior High School students Zachary Carroll, Sterling DeRamus, John Annesley DeGaris and Sean Doud have been named Brine National Lacrosse All-Americans to represent the Southeast Region in the 2013 Brine National All-Star Lacrosse Academy and National Lacrosse Classic. This event, to be held in Boyds, Md., June 30 through July 3, brings together the top 400 middle school lacrosse players who compete on 16 regional teams to become the
2013 National Champion. Defensive Midfielder Zachary Carroll, also a 2012 Brine National Lacrosse All-American, plays for the Mountain Brook High School varsity lacrosse team, coached by Brent Yarborough and Matt Aiken. Defenseman Sterling DeRamus and midfielder John Annesley DeGaris play for the Mountain Brook U15 lacrosse team, coached by Tom Clark and Sam Henderson. Defenseman Sean Doud plays for the Mountain Brook U13 gold lacrosse team, coached by Brian Doud and Jack Sharman.
Pirates win tournament
The Third Grade MBA Pirates won the rec league tournament. Front row: Thomas Foster, Zac Hecker, Brant Hawkins, Davis Plowden, Michael Lorino. Second row: Mason Keller, George Cain, Thomas Comini, Wyatt Brooks, Will McIlvaine. Third row: Brandon Plowden, Head Coach Michael Keller, Michael Brooks, Michael Hawkins, Chris McIlvaine. Photo courtesy of Frederica Hecker.
Angels win second grade championship The Second Grade Mountain Brook Angels won the league championship 9-3 over the A’s . Front row: Robert Morrow, Jack McDonald, Thomas Lutrell, William Robinett, Grayson Long, Jay Davis, Alex Roberts, Andrew Dennis, Jackson Beatty, Andrew Kohler, Bud Riley. Back row: Coaches Ryan Robinett, Matt Morrow, Jim Beatty, Ben Pilgrim. Not pictured: Randy Roberts.
26 • July 2013
Summer reading picks
Village Living
Books Mountain Brook writers are enjoying this summer
Lanier Isom
Kari Kampakis
Jim Noles
Patti Callahan Henry
Recommends Tongues of Flame by Mary Ward Brown
Recommends The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Recommends The Guns at Last Light by Rick Atkinson
Recommends The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe
I’m currently rereading Mary Ward Brown’s collection of short stories, Tongues of Flame. In Wayne Flynt’s commentary “Mary Ward Brown: A Black Belt Treasure Passes,” he wrote, “She was probably the most famous Alabamian you never heard of. That is because she wrote brilliant short stories about the people who inhabited that magical and conflicted land, black and white, in the solitude of that house midway between the Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers, halfway from Demopolis to Montgomery.” Lanier Isom is the author of Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond.
I love reading at night, when my girls are down and I need to unwind. One book I’ve enjoyed recently is John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. This novel, about two teenagers facing imminent deaths who fall in love, draws you in through quirky characters and smart writing. It, too, is thoughtprovoking and full of complexities that illustrate how it’s the hardships and difficult decisions we face that lead us to better places and give our lives a richness bigger than any obstacle in our way. Kari Kampakis writes the “Life Acutally” column for Village Living and is working on her first novel.
Last month, the final volume in Rick Atkinson’s Liberation Trilogy arrived in bookstores. Atkinson’s first two books in the series, An Army at Dawn and The Day of Battle, recounted the American Army’s World War II campaigns in North Africa and Italy. The trilogy’s conclusion, The Guns at Last Light, tells the tale of the battles to liberate Western Europe in 1944 and 1945. Ever since I read An Army at Dawn, I’ve been waiting for the next books to be published. In these histories, Atkinson’s writing strikes just the right note – deftly literate but not pretentious – and he does a wonderful job of being able to weave the individual narrative threads of individual soldiers’ experiences into the grand strategy of the campaign. The book may be a little bit big to stuff into your beach bag, but it’s worth the extra weight. Jim Noles is the author of A pocketful of history: Four hundred Years of America-One State Quarter at a Time, May 5, 1862: A Story of Cinco de Mayo, Mighty by Sacrifice and other titles.
The Summer Girls is the first book in a trilogy about three granddaughters and the summer they spent in a seaside summer house. Mary Alice Monroe weaves her incredible love of the Lowcountry and of dolphins into this heartwarming story. Monroe captures the complex relationships between three half sisters scattered across the country — and a grandmother determined to help them rediscover their family bonds. Patti Callahan Henry is the author of And Then I Found You, Coming Up for Air, Driftwood Summer, and other titles.
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July 2013 • 27
VillageLivingOnline.com
No more quick trips? Whole Foods Market 3100 Cahaba Village Plaza 4.6 miles from City Hall Opened Feb. 2007 Annual mileage: 526
Grocery from pg
Western Supermarket 2717 Culver Road 1.9 miles from City Hall Annual mileage: 217
1
On June 8, Andy Virciglio, co-owner of Piggly Wiggly Food Stores of Jefferson County Inc., released a statement that Piggly Wiggly was in lease negotiations with its landlord. “Everything about this store fits Crestline, and it is humbling to see how vocal our customers are in wanting us to stay,” Virciglio said. “We are planning on making that happen.” According to City Manager Sam Gaston, a company out of Auburn talked with City Planner Dana Hazen about adding a drivethrough window to the existing Piggly Wiggly location. The company is aware of the deadline to get on the agenda for the next planning commission meeting, Gaston said, but he could not confirm the company name. Unconfirmed reports arose that the visiting company represented a national pharmacy corporation like CVS or Walgreens. Gaston also said that the City’s records show that chains like CVS create about one-fifth the amount sales tax revenue as the Crestline Piggly Wiggly. Representatives from CVS declined to comment for this story. Walter Scott, a local attorney whose family owns the site, was also unwilling to comment when contacted. As rumors continued to circulate over the weeks to come, Virciglio’s only additional comment emphasized the store’s relationship with the community. “Our stores are highly involved in the communities we serve,” he said. “We work hard to build a positive relationship with our customers, and we value them very much.
If Piggly Wiggly were to leave Crestline Village, annual driving for residents could increase. According to the Food Market Institute (fmi.org), American families made an average of 2.2 trips to the grocery store per week in 2012. For a Crestline family that does all its shopping at Piggly Wiggly, that would mean at best adding 217 miles annually for grocery store trips.
Publix 3141 Overton Road 6.1 miles from City Hall Opened Nov. 2004 Annual mileage: 698
That is how my family and the store’s staff has always operated.” Pig supporters overflowed a library meeting room for a meeting hosted by the Facebook group organizers on June 10. The meeting, led by Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce president Terry Chapman, was a discussion of what people loved about the Piggly Wiggly in Crestline and a quick summary of the issue. City officials indicated at the meeting that an agreement has not yet been reached. Since the Piggly Wiggly opened in Crestline, five additional grocery stores have opened within a 5-mile radius of the store. Most recently, Winn-Dixie on Montevallo Road opened in 1999, Publix on Montclair Road in 2006 and Whole Foods in 2007. Virginia Volman shops at several grocery stores for her catering business, but she relies on Piggly Wiggly for its produce department and friendly service. “With catering, the produce manager has always been helpful,” she said. “They will go look for an item I need and call after they have been to the farmers market to look for it. I also like that I have seen the same people (working) there since I was in high school.” Barbara McElroy, who lives less than a mile from Crestline Village, shops primarily at Piggly Wiggly, making trips to Fresh Market and Publix only for certain items. She said she started shopping there when her son, now 20, was 3 years old. The store where she shopped before kept toys on a child’s eyelevel in every aisle. That, she said, was not
Winn-Dixie 4476 Montevallo Road 2.3 miles from City Hall Opened Sept. 1999 Annual mileage: 263
Publix 1325 Montclair Road 2.7 miles from City Hall Opened April 2006 Annual mileage: 309
Residents show their support of the Piggly Wiggly staying in Crestline during a community meeting in June. Photo by Brian Wallace.
family-friendly, so she found a new go-to at the Piggly Wiggly, where she has found not only prices but also a selection of meats and wines to her liking for years. “They have a great product line tailored to the needs of the community,” she said. “If you need something you don’t see, they will get it for you.” But what stands out most to McElroy is how
the store serves as a cornerstone of Crestline. It’s a place she feels so strongly about that she said she probably wouldn’t live in Crestline if the Piggly Wiggly weren’t there. “It’s part of what makes our community what it is,” she said. “We need a grocery store where you can walk in and they know if you have been on vacation for a week because they haven’t seen you.”
28 • July 2013
Village Living
Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis
Let’s get the kids to church I don’t know about you, but getting my family ready for church on Sunday mornings can send me over the edge sometimes. It’s a paradox for sure, the cursing under my breath and snapping at everyone because they can’t move fast enough. Here we are preparing for holy ground, and all I can think is, “Enough, already. I’m done.” Once I get to church, however, something strange happens. The tightness in my chest relaxes, and suddenly I can breathe again. The peace washing over me can only be attributed to the Holy Spirit, and without a doubt I know this is where I belong. Worshipping is what I was made to do. At no other point during the week do I feel so deeply moved and connected. Once I get to church, I’m always glad I made the effort. Always. I wonder sometimes why church affects me this way. Why is it my comfort zone, whereas other people feel uncomfortable the moment they enter the building? Why do I feel a little empty when I skip church on Sunday, whereas others don’t think twice? To me there’s only one earthly explanation: my parents. Because of my parents, I attended church almost every Sunday growing up. Even when I squirmed on the pew, clawed at their arms or whined about the service taking too long, they made me tough it out. Like most kids, I didn’t enjoy church. Besides finding it boring, it made no sense to me. But somewhere along the way, religion started to click. I realized I could get something out of a service if I listened.
That priest I’d been watching for a million years wasn’t speaking gibberish. He had useful life lessons, actually, and if I paid attention, I could learn things to help me through the week. It was definitely a revelation. As parents, we plant seeds, and sometimes it takes years — decades even — for our seeds to bloom. The spiritual seeds my parents planted didn’t take root until college, and looking back I realize how perfect the timing was. Although I loved college, it tapped into my deepest insecurities. Having a church to tether me offered calm among the chaos. As a freshman at the University Alabama, I finally had freedom to choose going to church. While my parents lived 15 minutes away, they never called or appeared on my doorstep to guilt me into going. It was my decision, but I knew if I did go I’d see them. It started by accident, attending church on my own accord, and largely because of friends I made. I’d hit it off with someone and discover that they, too, were Catholic. They’d ask if I wanted to ride together to Mass, and I’d go because I enjoyed their company and figured a service would do me good. The campus priest at the time was prolific, and his sermons drew me in. Sometimes I’d go to hear him. Sometimes I’d go to pray for a good test score. Sometimes I’d go for answers, or to simply feel better about life. While I didn’t visit every Sunday, I went a lot, often after a late Saturday night out.
My purpose in sharing this is to encourage parents to get the kids to church even when they resist. Even when they hang on you like dead weight, or force you into the cry room, stick with it. Children can’t love something they don’t know, and the more time they spend in God’s house, the more at home they’ll feel. The more at home they feel, the more likely they’ll sustain the habit and eventually attend church by choice, not force. We live in a world of quick thrills and fleeting pleasure. We hunger for substance, yet only one thing — God — can meet that craving. Now’s our chance to plant spiritual seeds that can benefit our kids down the road. Now’s our chance to teach them church is a place to love and respect, not fear and avoid. So next time you’re at your wit’s end on a Sunday morning, and tempted to call it off, remember the habit you’re setting. Remember you’re teaching your kids to keep holy the Sabbath and associate Sunday with God. Of course, there’s no guarantee your child or mine will keep the habit longterm, but there is peace of mind knowing we tried. As parents, that’s all we can ask of ourselves — to give our absolute best and pray for God to take it from there. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four with a background in PR, writing and photography. For more inspiration, join her Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer” or find her on Twitter. Visit her website at karikampakis.com, or contact her at kari@karikampakis.com.
Canterbury partners with Avondale to add community services Canterbury United Methodist Church has partnered with Avondale United Methodist Church to complete major renovations on Avondale’s 40-year-old gymnasium. With a goal to positively impact more the Avondale neighborhood through community services, the gymnasium will be renamed “Avondale Samaritan Place - A Community Hub for Christian Service.” “The work on the gymnasium, which has a fullsize basketball court, men’s and women’s restrooms and showers, equipment storage rooms and upper floor classrooms, should positively impact the greater Avondale area,” said Rev. Brandon Harris, pastor at Avondale. Adam Guthrie, executive director, will oversee the day-to-day use of the Samaritan Place facility for the partnering churches. Anne Warren is leading efforts at Canterbury. “We wanted to help through Canterbury’s Relational Outreach Ministry to make this a hub for Christian services with people in a community of great need and promise,” said Dr. Bill Morgan, Canterbury’s senior minister. Services to be offered include the community health fairs; brown bag food initiatives; Beeson senior adult services,; tutoring; and Carpenters Hands, where volunteers help repair housing for the underserved. The improved basketball court and facility will better serve the community’s youth. Completion of the renovation work is expected to be early in July. -Submitted by Canterbury United Methodist
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July 2013 • 29
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Garrett - Davis Grace Anne Garrett and Captain Brandon Reed Davis married Feb. 16 at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church. The Reverend Richmond Webster officiated the ceremony. Music was provided by Dr. James Dorroh. A reception followed at The Country Club of Birmingham. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bryan Garrett of Birmingham. She is the granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Donald Carl Turnbull and Dr. and Mrs. Marshall Garrett, all of Birmingham. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Davis of Linden, Ala. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Brian Cliff of Mobile, originally of Leeds, Yorkshire, England, and Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Franklin Davis of Linden. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore an ivory gown of French alencon lace over silk charmeuse with an illusion bateau neckline. She wore a Chapel length veil of ivory illusion edged in lace scallop. She carried a bouquet of white peonies, hydrangea, daffodils and lisianthus tied to a prayer book that had also been carried by her mother, sister, grandmother and five other brides in the family dating back to 1948. The bride’s sisters Taylor Garrett Welsh and Mary Baker Garrett were matron and maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Katelyn Marie Bassett, Stacie Brook Davis, Jane Catherine Elizabeth Dowling, Sarah Elizabeth Hansen, Diana Margaret Lee, Kristen Elizabeth Wheeles and Anna Katherine Yeager. The groom’s father and Daniel Ross Cadden were best men. Groomsmen were Joshua Christopher Bracher, Bryan Marshall Garrett, Phillip Christopher Gewin, Raymond Michael Meyer, IV, Jeffery Vance Swanson, Charles Robert Timm, Kenneth Andrew Wolfe and Dmitriy Sergeyevich Zakharov. Melissa Ann Mays and Daniel Logan Welsh read the Scripture. Acolytes were Margaret Lyle Logan, James Vann Logan and Sarah Hayden Logan. Program attendants were Mary Carolyn Gunn and Kayla Gomillion. Saber bearers providing the saber arch at the reception were Jon Cochran, Daniel Ferenczy, Christopher Herold, Gregory Walker, Gregory Wheeler and Ryan Van Wie. After a wedding trip to Antigua, the couple now lives in Clarksville, Tenn.
McElroy - Wall
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Harper McElroy III of Mountain Brook announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Ellen McElroy, to Mr. Kevin Lee Wall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Ralph Wall of Mountain Brook. Miss McElroy is also the daughter of the late Ms. Elisabeth V. McElroy. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Dr. Ellen C. McElroy of Huntsville, the late Dr. Andrew Harper McElroy Jr., Mrs. Mary Vance of Dothan and the late Mr. John C. Vance. She is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and a magna cum laude graduate of The University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Theta Tau International nursing honor society and Lambda Sigma academic honor society. She is employed with Children’s of Alabama as a registered nurse in the NICU. The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Coy Wall and the late Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Basil Neal, all of Atlanta. Mr. Wall is also a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and Auburn University. He is a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He is an agent for the music booking company Crescent Moon Entertainment. The wedding is planned for Aug. 3 at Canterbury United Methodist Church.
Congratulations and Best Wishes, Indian Springs School Class of 2013! Indian Springs congratulates its newest alumni on being accepted to colleges and universities nationwide and around the world— and on receiving more than $6.1 million in scholarship offers from these fine institutions.
indiansprings.org
Allegheny College, American University, American University of Beirut, Auburn University*, Bard College, Barnard College, Beloit College, Berry College*, Birmingham-Southern College*, Boston College, Boston University*, Brown University, California State University–East Bay*, California State University–Long Beach, Carnegie Mellon University*, Case Western Reserve University*, Centre College*, Claremont McKenna College, Cleveland State University, Colby College, College of Charleston*, College of William and Mary*, Colorado College, Connecticut College, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Davidson College, Dickinson College, Duke University*, Earlham College, Eckerd College*, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Emory University*, Florida Atlantic University, Fordham University, Franklin and Marshall College, Furman University*, Georgia Institute of Technology*, Goucher College*, Grinnell College, Harvey Mudd College, Hendrix College*, Howard University*, Ithaca College*, Johns Hopkins University, Lafayette College, Landmark College, Lawrence University*, Loyola University New Orleans, Lynn University*, Marquette University, McGill University, Middlebury College, Millsaps College*, Mississippi State University, Morehouse College, Mount Holyoke College*, Muhlenberg College, New College of Florida, New York University*, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University*, Oxford College of Emory University, Pennsylvania State University, Queens University of Charlotte, Reed College, Rhodes College*, Rice University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart University, Samford University*, Savannah College of Art and Design*, Sewanee: The University of the South*, Skidmore College*, Sophia University (Japan), Southern Methodist University*, Southwestern University, St. John’s University, Stanford University, Syracuse University, Texas A&M University*, Trinity College, Troy University, Tufts University, University at Buffalo The State University of New York, University of Alabama*, University of Alabama at Birmingham*, University of California at Davis, University of California at Irvine, University of California at San Diego, University of Connecticut, University of Delaware, University of Denver*, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Evansville, University of Hawaii, University of Houston, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign*, University of Maryland–College Park, University of Massachusetts–Amherst*, University of Memphis, University of Miami, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, University of Mississippi, University of Montevallo*, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill*, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Notre Dame, University of Oklahoma, University of Pennsylvania*, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rhode Island, University of Rochester, University of South Alabama*, University of Southern California*, University of Tampa*, University of Tennessee–Knoxville, University of Texas–Austin*, University of the Pacific, University of Toledo, University of West Florida, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Vanderbilt University*, Villanova University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Wake Forest University, Warren Wilson College, Washington College, Washington University in St. Louis*, Wheaton College, Wofford College *Asterisks = two or more students have been accepted. Bold type = where students are matriculating.
Celebrations Payne - Thomson Sarah Suzanne Payne and Dr. Colby Vinton Thomson were united in marriage on April 27 at Canterbury United Methodist Church with a reception following at The Club of Birmingham. The Reverend Samuel Lee Williamson officiated the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Middleton Payne, and the groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Tracey Vinton Thomson, all of Birmingham. The bride wore an heirloom wedding gown designed and fashioned by her great-grandmother, Nina Bain Mason, for her mother in 1966 and also worn by her sister. The gown, redesigned for the bride by Charlsie Hand, is a sheath of candlelight peau de soie and hand-beaded Alencon lace. The bodice is sleeveless with lace overlay and a portrait neckline; the skirt and cathedral train are embellished with lace medallions and edged in lace. She wore her sister’s cathedral veil, which includes the fingertip veil worn by her mother, and carried a bouquet of peonies, hydrangeas and stephanotis. The matron of honor was Jennifer Payne Mayo, sister of the bride, of Madison, Miss. Bridesmaids were Kathleen Roche Boudreaux of Birmingham; Amy Studin Glade, Erica Harvey Sheidler, and Ashley Hope Thomson, sister of the groom, all of Atlanta; Rita Axelroth Hodges of Philadelphia; and Jessica Nasta Mahony of Mountain Lakes, N.J. Flower girl was Lydia Jane Mayo, niece of the bride, of Madison, Miss. Dr. Tracey Vinton Thomson served as his son’s best man. Groomsmen were Hunter Dillard Allen, Joseph Bryan Boudreaux, James Scott Boudreaux, Jesse Jackson Payne and Jonathan Mason Payne, brothers of the bride; Buyisani Lindani Tabengwa and Benjamin Dawson Walker, all of Birmingham. Ring bearer was Robert Mason Mayo, nephew of the bride, of Madison, Miss. After a wedding trip to the British Virgin Islands, Dr. and Mrs. Thomson reside in Birmingham.
30 • July 2013
Calendar
Mountain Brook Events July 22-24: LJCC Ronald Steele Basketball Camp. 9 a.m.-noon. Ages: 7-15. $100. Register at organichoopz.com, call (800) 2977201 or email to info@organichoopz. com. July 1-5 (Except July 4): Icky, Sticky, Ooey Gooey Camp. 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $216 for nonmembers and $156 for members. Grades 1-6. This camp will explore the “eew,” the goo, the yuck and the junk of science. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 1-5 (Except July 4): Tennis Camp I. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $216 for non-members and $138 for members. Grades 1-8. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 1 – 5 (Except July 4): Tennis Camp II. 9 a.m.–noon. $138 for non-members and $108 for members. Grades 1-8. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 11: Chamber Quarterly Luncheon. Park Lane in English Village. 11 a.m. Bill Canary, president and CEO of Business Council of Alabama, will speak. $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com July 8-12: Experience Farming in the Wilderness. Grades 4-8. $460 for non-members and $400 for members. Experience the basics of a start-up farm while camping under the stars. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 8-12: Magic Camp. 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $255 for nonmembers and $156 for members. Grades 1-7. LJCC. Visit winstonhelling. com. Visit bhamjcc.org.
Village Living
July 8-12: Mike Getman Soccer Camp at The J. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Ages 5–12. $215. Soccer camp participants learn skills and techniques through exercises and games specifically designed for youth. LJCC. Visit uabsoccercamp.com to register or bhamjcc.org for more. July 8-12: Woodshop 101 (sponsored by Home Depot). 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $255 for nonmembers and $195 for members. Grades 1–4. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 15-19: Lego Robotics. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $255 for nonmembers and $195 for members. Grades 3–6. Use software to create and adapt programs to control movement. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org.
July 22-26: Knight Chess II. 12:30–3:30 pm. $160 for nonmembers and $130 for members. Grades 1-7. State Chess Champion David Brooks featured. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 22-26: Sababa. 9 a.m.3:30 p.m. $195 for non-members and $135 for members. Grades 1-7. Playing games and sports, hiking, swimming and cooking are just a sampling of what to expect. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 22-26: Splash. 9 a.m.– noon. $160 for non-members and $130 for members. Grades 1-7. Intermediate swim skills required. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 27: Otey’s Fest. Otey’s Parking Lot, Crestline Village, 5 p.m. Live music. Benefits Cure for MS. $15 in advance, $20 gate. Visit ticketbiscuit.com or Otey’s for tickets.
July 15-19: Learning With Animals. 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $255 for non-members and $195 for members. Grades 2–7. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org.
July 29-Aug 2: All Sports with Coach Rebecca. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $255 for nonmembers and $195 for members. Grades 1-7. Activities include team sports such as lacrosse, soccer, badminton, Frisbee, softball, volleyball and less competitive sports in a fun, recreational environment. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org.skills.
July 15-19: Takin’ It to the Woods: Challenge Experience. $ 485 for nonmembers and $425 for members. Grades 3–8. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org. July 20: 12th Annual Market Day. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Flea market with discounts up to 75 percent off. BAM Entertainment will play music. July 22-26: Art Explorations with Ms. Judy. 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $255 for non-members and $195 for members. Learn the techniques of master artists and experiment with various art mediums to create drawings, paintings, collages and other works of art, using imagination and creativity. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org.
July 29 –Aug 2: Creative Crafts with Ms. Judy. 9 a.m3:30 p.m. $255 for non-members and $195 for members. Grades 1-7. July 29 –Aug 2: Knight Chess III. 12:30–3:30 p.m. $160 for nonmembers and $130 for members. Grades 1-7. LJCC. Visit bhamjcc.org.
Community Events July 4: Jazz in the Park. Railroad Park, 6 p.m. Jazz artists Lao Tizer and Kim Scoot play an outdoor concert for all ages. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, seat cushions, coolers and food for the night. Free admission. Visit magiccitysmoothjazz.com. July 4: Independence Day 1776 Fireworks Show. American Village, noon. Fireworks show plus costumed historical interpreters, interactive Revolutionary Army games and Full Moon BBQ. $5 admission. Free admission for veterans and military. Call 665-3535. July 4-8: Birmingham Barons vs. Mississippi Braves. Regions Field, 6:30 p.m. (Thurday), 7:05 p.m. (Friday), 6:30 p.m. (Saturday), 3 p.m. (Sunday), 7:05 p.m. (Monday). $7 general admission. Call 988-3200 or visit groups@barons.com for group tickets. July 5-7: “Annie Get Your Gun.” Virginia Samford Theatre, 7:30 p.m. (Friday and Saturday), 2:30 p.m. (Sun). Directed by Jack Mann and choreographed by Carl Dean. $35 for center seats, $30 for right and left seats. Call 251-1206. July 8-Sept. 30: The Stand Against MS. 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100B. A fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Alabama-Mississippi Chapter presented by Bud’s Best Cookies and Buffalo Rock. Snack provided. Call 1-800-344-4867 or visit nationalMSsociety.org/alc to register. July 9-Aug. 30: In the Gallery Art Exhibition By Daniel Moore. Aldridge Gardens, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Artist Daniel Moore, famous for his Alabama Crimson Tide paintings, in a one-man art exhibition show and sale. Call 682-8019 or visit aldridgegardens.com. July 11: Luke Bryan Concert.
Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, 7 p.m. $70$87 admission. Visit ticketmaster.com. July 11: Meet-the-Artist Reception with Daniel Moore. Aldridge Gardens, 5-7 p.m. Artist Daniel Moore is famous for his Alabama Crimson Tide paintings. July 12: Corey Smith with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, 6 p.m. $54-$244. Visit ticketmaster.com July 13: McWane Science Center’s 15th Birthday Party. McWane Science Center, 10 a.m. Travis Taylor of Nat Geo’s show, Rocket City Rednecks, performs live demonstrations on the plaza. Also enjoy rock climbing, rock candy and rock ‘n’ roll music. Free admission for members. For nonmembers, $12 for adults and $9 for children and seniors. Call 714-8300 or visit mcwane.org. July 19: Widespread Panic. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, 8 p.m. $77-$232 for admission. Visit ticketmaster.com July 19-21: “Beauty and the Beast Junior.” Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre, 7:30 p.m. (Friday) and 2 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday). The children’s version of the Disney classic performed by a cast all around the age of 12. $20 admission. Call 324-2424. July 20: Christmas in July. Oak Mountain State Park, 10 a.m. Celebrate Christmas by making ornaments and other Christmas crafts. Free after park admission. Call 620-2520. July 20: International Festival at the Birmingham Zoo. Birmingham Zoo, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The Zoo commemorates the Civil Rights Movement with an international festival. Enjoy a wildlife show, unique foods and animal
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
July 2013 • 31
VillageLivingOnline.com
Emmet O’Neal Library greetings. $14 adults, $9 for children and seniors. Call 879-0409. July 20: “Aldridge Gardens Bird Walk” with Dr. Richard & Patricia Ryel. Aldridge Gardens, 8-10 a.m. Two-hour guided walk with Dr. Richard and Patricia Ryel to discover the birds of Aldridge Gardens. Visit aldridgegardens.com to register. July 23-27: Birmingham Barons vs. Mobile Baybears. Regions Field, 7:05 p.m. (Tuesday-Friday) and 6:30 p.m. (Satruday). $7 general admission. Call 988-3200. Visit groups@barons.com for group tickets. July 23-27: Birmingham Children’s Theatre presents “Cinderella.” Birmingham Children’s Theatre, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Recommended for ages 2-6. $10 for adults and $8 for children. Call 458-8181 or visit tickets.bct123.org. July 25: Bowling for Rhinos. Brunswick Riverview Lanes, 6-10 p.m. Join the zoo to support rhino conservation. $15 registration fee includes four hours of bowling, shoes, access to door prizes, raffles and snacks. Visit aazkbfr.org. July 25: Concert with Bo Barry, Tommy Stewart & J.J. Paterson, “Lou Rawls Review.” Aldridge Gardens, 6-8 p.m. Bring picnic dinner, refreshments, blankets and chairs. Tickets available at aldridgegardens.com or Renasant Bank locations. July 27: Kids n’ Cameras. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. For middle-schoolers looking to learn about their cameras and the art of photography. Participants will bring their own lunch. $50 General admission. Call 414-3950.
Children’s Programming
July 26: Final Party & Game On! 4:30-6:30 p.m. Prizes.
Mondays: Toddler Tales Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays: All ages G-rated show. 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays: Mother Goose Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Thursdays: Patty Cake Story Time. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Thursdays: PG-rated movie. 10:30 am. Grades 3-6. Saturdays: Family Story Time with Mr. Mac. 10:30 a.m. July 9: 3rd/4th grade Bookmania. A Mutiny in Time. 6 p.m. July 23: 5th/6th grade Bookmania: The Name of This Book is Secret. 6 p.m. July 27: Chess Tournament. Noon-4 p.m. Register by Thursday, July 25. 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 at online.eolib.org, facebook.com/ emmetoneallibrary or eolib.blogspot.com.
Teen Programming
July 27: Fresh Start 5K. West Homewood Farmer’s Market, 8 a.m. Registration ends July 13. $10 registration fee, or $25 with t-shirt. Visit westhomewood. com.
July 2: Teen Advisory Board Meeting. 5-6 p.m.
Alabama Theatre Summer Movies in July. Alabama Theatre. July 12, 7 p.m. Blazing Saddles. July 14, 2 p.m. The Help. July 19, 7 p.m. Cool Hand Luke. July 21, 2 p.m. To Kill a Mockingbird. July 26, 7 p.m. Grease (Sing-Along Version). July 27, 2 p.m. E.T. July 28, 2 p.m. Sound of Music.
July 12: Circuit Bending, make things go beep! 1-3 p.m.
July 5: Movie Marathon: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Movies TBA.
July 19: Water Balloon Wars: Hunger Games Edition! 1-2 p.m. In the field across from the library.
thimbles
Adult Programming Wednesdays: Brown Bag Lunch series. 12:30 p.m. July 4: Library closed. July 8: Great Books book group. 6:30 p.m. Discussing a selected short story. July 9: The Bookies book group. 10 a.m. Discussing “Midnight in Peking” by Paul French. July 9: Adult Summer Reading. 7 p.m. Reception and reading of the Birmingham Arts Journal. July 9: Birmingham Arts Journal Celebration. 7-9 p.m. Celebrating its 11th year. July 10: Adult Summer Reading. 12:30 p.m. Celebrating the 142nd birthday of Marcel Proust with eminent Proust scholar Dr. William Carter. July 13: Knit & Knibble. 2-3:30 p.m. All crafts and skill levels welcome. July 16: Documentaries After Dark. 6:30 p.m. Vidal Sassoon. July 18: Let’s Talk Money. 6:30 p.m. Discussion of personal finance and investing topics. Light dinner served. July 23: Adult Summer Reading Finale. 6:30 p.m. Bad Art Night! Light dinner served and final
WE’VE MOVED!
prizes awarded. July 30: Genre Reading Group. 6:30 p.m. Discussing western novels.
Starnes Publishing Winner of 26 awards in the 2013 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper and Advertising Contests.
26 Advertising 13
13 Editorial
We promise to continue our drive to deliver the best community content to Birmingham’s largest targeted monthly readership. Contact us anytime to submit story ideas or events or to learn more about creating award-winning advertisements for your business.
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The Homewood Star
32 • July 2013
Village Living