Village Living vol 4 iss 8 november 2013 by Starnes Media

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November 2013

Village Living Volume 4 | Issue 8 | November 2013

Arrelia says goodbye

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neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook

A long way from home Army JAG ofﬁcer to return from deployment after nearly a year

Arrelia Callins is quick to speak about how much she has loved Crestline. Read about her work at the Pig for the past four decades inside.

Community page B1

Wheeling into the future

Major Jay Skinner has been deployed to Kuwait in the Army National Guard since January. Photo courtesy of the Skinner family.

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

A new kind of wheelchair will soon enter the health care market, and its roots are in Mountain Brook. Learn the story behind it in this issue.

Community page B13

INSIDE Sponsors ......... A4 City ................... A6 Business .......... A8 Food ................. A11 School House.. A15 Community ..... B3 Sports ............. B14 Faith ................ B19 Calendar ........ B20

This month, Major Jay Skinner will see green for the first time in almost a year. Since March 2, he has watched his dog play in his front yard in Mountain Brook via webcam, but out his window he can only see browns and grays. He’s been in sandstorms where he couldn’t see more than 100 feet in front of him and weathered heat that climbs up to 122 degrees. “It’s like standing in front of your oven with a

hot blow-dryer on you and occasionally throwing some fine sand up in your face,” he said. Jay has been deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait with the 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, an Alabama Army National Guard unit based in Homewood. He was stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas, since Jan. 13, with only a four-day leave before going to Kuwait. Although he has served as a reserve officer in the JAG Corps for nearly a decade, this has been his, and his family’s, first deployment.

The emotions that fill his wife, Kathy, and kids, Thomas (16), Hollon (15) and Henry (11), back at home are mixed. Times have been trying without their father’s and husband’s presence, but they are filled with pride that he is serving their country. On the 13th of every month, Andi Gillen, a friend from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, arranged for a friend to bring the Skinners dinner. The meal has provided not just physical

See HOME | page A22

A faster moving market Agents to share the latest on Mountain Brook real estate at Chamber luncheon By MADOLINE MARKHAM

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For the first time in several years, “sold” signs are keeping up with “for sale” signs around the villages. Residential real estate sales in Mountain Brook are up 34 percent year-over-year, according to a Birmingham Area MLS comparing sales from Jan. 1 to Oct. 16, 2012 to the same dates from 2013. “The market is refreshingly active,” LAH Real Estate agent Dot Mash said. “For so many years, it was slow, but now we are having good activity in all price ranges.” Wilmer Poynor of Ray & Poynor said Mountain

Millie Osborn, RealtySouth

Wilmer Poynor, Ray & Poynor

Brook’s market is stronger than the surrounding areas. Within city limits there is an average of a 3.7-month supply of homes in Mountain Brook, meaning if all listings were

Dot Mash, LAH Real Estate

to be frozen it would take 3.7 months to sell them at the current rate. That compares to an

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Village Living

About Us Photo of the Month

Evie Yeilding, Claudia Polmatier and Maggie Simmons, longtime MBBC preschool pals now in kindergarten at Cherokee Bend and Mountain Brook Elementary, reunite at the Symphony 30 Picnic. Photo courtesy of Tiffany Polmatier.

Editor’s Note By Jennifer Gray We hear so much on the news about military families. We hear stories of missing loved ones serving overseas, we hear of the sacrifice of these families. But for many, including myself, the deployments we hear so much about in the news aren’t usually about people I know. While I empathize with their families and value their service to our country, I don’t know them personally. I don’t know their story, nor am I able to follow their family during deployment. This month, in honor of all of the veterans that have sacrificed so much for our country, we focus on someone you might know, someone from Mountain Brook. His family’s past year has been spent without a husband or father at home. Jay Skinner returns this

month from his deployment in the Middle East. Read more about what this year held for the Skinner family in this month’s cover story. Also this month, with the closing of the Pig in Crestline, we profile one of the familiar faces there — Arrelia Callins. Make sure you read her letter to the community in thanks on

page B1. And what would November be without Thanksgiving? We decided this year to add a twist to our holiday coverage. Yes, we have our annual “What are you thankful for” piece, but what about the food? We looked at what to do if you really just don’t want to cook for Thanksgiving and have highlighted some local businesses that offer solutions just for that dilemma.

Also, if you are tired of turkey as the centerpiece of your meal, the Junior League has an alternate suggestion. We’ve included a recipe for a different sort of Thanksgiving entrée in this issue. Maybe switching things up this year is just what you need. Lastly, how can we not talk about the Iron Bowl? We’ve asked a couple of die-hard fans about their loyalty and traditions as we look forward to another match-up. And as we approach this start of another holiday season, remember to shop local whenever possible.

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 Contributing Writers : Kari Kampakis Kathleen Buccleugh Katie Turpen Intisar Seraaj-Sabree Holley Wesley Interns : Syndey Cromwell Lauren Moriarty Published by : Village Living LLC

School House Contributors : Catherine Gasque & Catherine Bodnar- Cherokee Bend, Lisa Stone - Crestline, Kathleen Woodry- Brookwood Forest, Suzanne Milligan- Mountain Brook High School, Hilary Ross- Mountain Brook Elementary, Elizabeth Farrar- Mountain 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

For advertising contact: Dan@VillageLivingOnline.com

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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Please Support our Community Partners A Little Something (B16) A Tiny Kingdom (B20) Alabama Newspaper Advertising Service (B22) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B12) Alabama Outdoors (B8) Alabama Power (B2) Alan Shefﬁeld (B19) Allstate Insurance - Jay Barker Agency (A14) Always There, Inc. (A8) Amy Smith (B23) Argent Antiques (B7) Bedzzz Express (A5) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (B16) Bongiorno Italian Restaurant (A9) Briarcliff Shop (A20) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A20) Brookwood Medical Center (A13) Brother Bryan Mission (B22) BYO Wireless (B13) Cafe Iz (B20) California Closets (A21) Canterbury Gardens (B17) Chickadee (B11) Children’s of Alabama (B3) Christmas Village (A16) Christopher Glenn (B14) Colonial Brookwood Village (B1) Dish’n It Out (A22) Eich Plastic Surgery (B4) Etc. (B6) Fi-Plan Parnters (B10) Four Corners Custom Framing (B11) Frontera (B20) Hanna’s Garden Shop (B13) Hufham Orthodontics (A15) Isbell Jewelers (A23) Jacqueline DeMarco (A10) Jimmie Hale Mission (B18) John-William Jeweller (A19) Jordan Alexander Jewelry (A21) Junior League of Birmingham (B15) King’s House Oriental Rugs (B12) Kirkwood by the River (B9) Lamb’s Ears Ltd. (A4) Lane Parke - Evson Inc. (A9) Laura Kathryn (A17) Leaf & Petal (A6) Liberty Animal Hospital (A19) Little Hardware, Inc. (B24) Marguerite’s Conceits (B17) Mitchell’s Place (B9) Mobley & Sons (A12) Monkee’s of Mountain Brook (A10) Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce (A12, A18) One Man’s Trash Antiques (B23) Otey’s (A6) Pilates On Highland (B15) Please Reply (A23) PreSchool Partners (B19) RealtySouth (A24) Red Mountain Theatre Company (A22) Renasant Bank (A3) Savage’s Bakery (A16) Snoozy’s Kids (B20) Swoop (A16) Taco Mama (B19) The Cook Store (A14) The Lingerie Shoppe (B23) The Maids (A1) Town and Country (A14) Tracy’s Restaurant (A10) Turning the Tables Room Renovations (B14) UAB Medicine (B18) United Way (B7) Village Dermatology (A7) Village Sportswear (A15) Wallace-Burke (B5) Winn-Dixie (A2)

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Village Living

City

CRIME REPORT

Leaf collection schedule for 2013-2014

Week of Sept. 12-19

Leaf season in Mountain Brook began in October, and Waste Management will be collecting loose leaves through March 1. Each residence will receive four leaf pick-ups during leaf season. Leaves collected from curbs in the city are taken to the City’s Public Works facilities to be turned into

A UBEV case occurred in the 2300 block of Brook Manor Drive between Sept. 16-17. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle. There was no property reported stolen. A UBEV case occurred in the 2300 block of Brook Manor Drive on Sept. 17. Unknown suspect(s) entered multiple unlocked vehicles at the victim’s residence and stole U.S. currency, a camera and ammunition.

compost. Bagged leaves cannot be used for compost and will be serviced on residents’ regular trash collection day. The City of Mountain Brook advises residents not to deposit leaves in the City’s gutters or storm drain inlets as this is in violation of City ordinances.

2013-2014 Leaf Collection Schedule If your garbage collection day is: Monday Collection periods will be Oct. 28-Nov. 1; Dec. 2-5; Dec. 26-31; Jan. 29-Feb. 3 Tuesday Collection periods will be Nov. 4-8; Dec. 6-10; Jan. 2-7; Feb. 4-10 Wednesday Collection periods will be Nov. 11-15; Dec. 11-14; Jan. 8-14; Feb. 11-17 Thursday Collection periods will be Nov. 18-22; Dec. 16-19; Jan. 15-2; Feb. 18-24 Friday Collection periods will be Nov. 23-29; Dec. 20-24; Jan. 22-28; Feb. 25-March 1

Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle: A UBEV case occurred in the 2700 block of U.S. 280 between Sept. 12-13. Unknown suspect(s) broke the rear passenger window and entered the vehicle. Luggage and articles of clothing were stolen.

Week of Sept. 20-26 Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle: A UBEV case occurred in the 2400 block of Cahaba Road between Sept. 19-20. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle. There was no property reported stolen. A UBEV case occurred in the 2000 block of English Village Lane between Sept. 19-20. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a laptop computer. A UBEV case occurred in the 2300 block of English Village Lane between Sept. 19-20. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole U.S. currency. A UBEV case occurred in the 2100 block of Peacock Lane between Sept. 19-20. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle. There was no property reported stolen. A UBEV case occurred in the 2200 block of Peacock Lane between Sept. 19-20. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a wallet. Burglary / Residential: A residential burglary occurred in the 2500 block of Beverly Drive on Aug. 23. Unknown suspect(s) forced open

a door at the rear of the residence. Jewelry, electronics and U.S. currency were stolen.

Week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3 No crimes reported

Week of Oct. 3-10 Burglary / Residential: A residential burglary occurred in the 4200 block of Old Leeds Road on Oct. 4. Unknown suspect(s) forced open a door at the rear of the residence. At the time of the report, the amount of property stolen had not been determined. A residential burglary occurred in the 4800 block of Old Leeds Road on Oct. 6. Three suspects were arrested at a residence that was vacant at the time of the arrest.

Week of Oct. 11-17 Unlawful Breaking / Entering of a Vehicle: A UBEV case occurred in the 2600 block of Heathermoor Road between Oct. 12-13. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole U.S currency and a firearm. A UBEV case occurred in the 2500 block of Heathermoor Road between Oct. 12-13. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and searched the vehicle. There was no property stolen. A UBEV case occurred in the 10 block of West Montcrest Drive between Oct. 12-13. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole a ticket to a sporting event. Theft / Motor Vehicle: The theft of a motor vehicle occurred in the 2500 block of Heathermoor Road between Oct. 12-13. Unknown suspect(s) entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole the vehicle. -Submitted by Mountain Brook Police Department

A tradition unlike any other for over 20 years

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SATURDAYS AT OTEY’S Kick off football Saturday with Otey’s Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s Famous cocktails Ice cold beer buckets

Award winning wings Flat screens inside and out

BEST OF MOUNTAIN BROOK Village Living 2013

2013 winner

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November 2013 • A7

Additional parking could come to Cahaba Village

The City Council is considering the addition of 130 new parking spaces in Cahaba Village on the south side of the current lot. Rendering courtesy of the City of Mountain Brook. Image by Jeff Thompson.

By JEFF THOMPSON The Mountain Brook City Council has moved a step closer to alleviating parking issues in Cahaba Village. During its regular meeting in October, the Council considered an amendment to the Cahaba Village Master Development Plan. This amendment, which will require a public hearing to take effect, would provide 130 new parking spaces in the village. The new spaces would extend south from the current parking lots toward U.S. 280. West of Green Valley Road, 59 new spaces would be

added, and 71 spaces would be added at Whole Foods. The Council will hold a public hearing on the amendment during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Complex. Below are additional actions taken by the Council since the previous publication of Village Living.

Appointments:

ff Appointed Bryan Helm to the Finance Committee to fill a seat vacated by James “Dudley” Pewitt. ff Reappointed Gerald A. Gamer to the Parks and Recreation Board

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ff Reappointed James Hard to the Emmet O’Neal Library Board. ff Reappointed Fred Murray to the Planning Commission.

Actions:

ff Increased the annual salary of

City Manager Sam Gaston by 1 percent to $151,406.58. ff Increased the annual salary for all employees by 1 percent. ff Increased compensation for judges with the City of Mountain Brook Municipal Court from $288 per day to $450 per day, and increased compensation for prosecutors from $90 per day to $110 per day.

ff Agreed

to pay Dunn Construction approximately $40,000 to pave Spring Street from Euclid Avenue North to the end of utility work. ff Agreed to offer continuing medical coverage to eligible employees who retire between Nov. 1 and May 1, 2014. ff Approved PNC Bank’s conditional use application for a site in Mountain Brook Village. ff Approved Western Supermarkets as the new provider of prepared food to City jail inmates. The contract was previously held by Piggly Wiggly.

on kids!

Public Hearings Nov. 12

ff Create the Vine Street Transitional

District. By amending the Village Overlay Standards, the Council could decide to create a space in Crestline Village’s new residential and business development on the west side of Vine Street in Crestline Village. According to the ordinance, current property owners could elect to apply for rezoning into the new district but would not be forced to. ff Change Cahaba Village Master Development Plan to include additional parking.

JENNY O. SOBERA, MD KRISTY P. CURL, DO MEGAN S. CHERRY, MD SHELLEY W. WINZELER, PA-C

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Now Open Mason Music held a ribbon-cutting for its new studio in Mountain Brook Village in October. Both its Cahaba Heights and Mountain Brook locations are now open MondayFriday for lessons in piano, guitar (acoustic, electric, bass, banjo, mandolin), voice, violin and drums. 874-9596. masonmusicstudios.com.

BYO Wireless has opened its headquarters at 3940 Montclair Road, Suite 401. It sells 30-day prepaid wireless plans to cell phones users without requiring a contract. byowireless.com.

The Major Event full service event and wedding planning firm is now located in Mountain Brook Village at 2839 Culver Road, Suite 207. Owner Mimi Major Bittick spent 13 years as an event planner in Atlanta before moving home to Birmingham in 2011 and opening The Major Event. 440-1975. themajorevent.com.

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A new men’s clothing store, Baer’s Den, is now open in Cahaba Village at 2800 Cahaba Village Plaza. 970-4990. thebaersden.com.

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Coming Soon 5

Restaurateur Charles Matsos will be opening an Italian restaurant, Delicio’s, at 3150 Overton Road across from Publix in December.

Relocations Steel Drum Grill has closed its original location at 3150 Overton Road and plans to open in a new location soon. steeldrumgrill.com.

News and Accomplishments Shindigs food truck is now parking in front of the fields at Mountain Brook Elementary for lunch on Tuesdays instead of Mondays. It is open from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. shindigscateringtrucks.com.

MAFIAoZA’S Mountain Brook won the 2013 Thighsman trophy at Kick’n Chick’n Wing Fest last month. The Thighsman goes to the restaurant that scores the most overall points in both the hot wing and alternative-style wing categories voted on by the event’s judges. 414-7878. maﬁaozas.com.

Urban Cookhouse received the 2013 Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) award for Retailer of the Year. Last year the business received the Emerging Retailer of the Year award, also from the BBA. urbancookhouse.com.

Business news Business news Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates, 4 Office Park Circle, Suite 301, is holding two-day special LYRIC hearing events Nov. 13-14 and Dec. 3-4. The event includes free audiometric testing and consultation in addition to learning about a free 30-trial of the product. 871-3878. birminghamspeechandhearing.com.

to share? to share? Two Mountain Brook businesses were recognized as Retailers of the Year by The Alabama Retail Association, in cooperation with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business. Leaf & Petal received the Bronze Award for the category of annual sales less than $1 million. Western Supermarket received the Silver Award for the category of annual sales $5 million to $20 million. Both businesses were nominated for the award by Suzan Doidge, executive director of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.

Anniversaries

Coming Soon Coming Soon

Ruby Ansley Interiors Inc., 2806 Petticoat Lane, celebrated its 50th anniversary last month. 871-8204.

Business news Expansion Expansion

toAnniversary share? If you are in a brick and mortar business in Mountain Brook and want to share If you are event in a brick mortar business your withand the community, in Mountain Brook and let us know.want to share your event with the community, let us know.

Village Living iving Coming Soon Village Living

Email dan@villagelivingonline.com Email dan@villagelivingonline.com

Expansion If you are in a brick and mortar business in Mountain Brook and want to share your event with the community, let us know.

Village Living Email dan@villagelivingonline.com

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Lane Park Rd

A10 • November 2013

Business Spotlight

The Cook Store

Village Living

Read past Business Spotlights at villagelivingonline.com

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By KATIE TURPEN Wesley Lassen fondly remembers standing at her mother’s side in the kitchen as a little girl. She always insisted on being part of the action, whether it was baking cookies or welcoming friends to the home for a get together. “They used to call me the little helper,” Lassen said. “I’ve just always loved cooking and entertaining.” As an adult, Lassen was searching for the best outlet for her love of cooking when, in 1999, she got a fateful phone call that would give her the chance to turn her passion into a full-on business venture. “I got a call that this store was for sale,” Lassen said. “I immediately took it.” Founded by Sam Franks in 1975, The Cook Store was originally called The Kitchen Shoppe. Franks sold it to Betty Knight, who changed its name. Lassen, the third owner of the store, said she could not be happier being a part of the cooking and entertainment world that she loved as a child. “It’s just a really fun business to be in,” Lassen said. The quaint shop is nestled on the end of Mountain Brook Village under a black awning with a chef statue that holds a friendly welcome sign. Once inside, customers are met with a wall-

Wesley Lassen holds a unique pottery item sold at The Cook Store. She has owned the store since 1999. The Cook Store in Mountain Brook Village offers a variety of kitchen utensils, cookware and fun gadgets.

to-wall display of every possible gadget, utensil, basket, pan or bowl related to cooking. Whether you are looking for a functional kitchen item or funky gift for a friend, there are plenty of options in this room. The first room displays a variety

of unique pottery from local artists and items from artists in Chicago, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Mississippi. Local artists include Earthbound Studios, Stonegate Pottery and Wade Oliver Pottery. The second room holds an array

2841 Cahaba Road 879-5277 thecookstoremtnbrook.com Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

of silver that does not need polishing and wooden trays, plates and bowls. There is also a miscellaneous cooking wall with everything from cocktail napkins to rainbow-colored scoops. “Wood is a huge category for us right now,” Lassen said. “You can

d use it to grill, for family barbecues, everything.” The back room contains a variety of cooking utensils and a selection of colorful aprons. Lassen said the store takes special orders and is also the perfect spot for brides looking for a not-so-typical place to register. “We have tons of neat wedding gifts,” Lassen said. “And we’ll do complimentary delivery in the area.” While Lassen has many loyal local customers, she said she has been pleasantly surprised at the number of outof-town visitors who stop by the store. “We get people from Cullman and a lot from Alexander City and even Mississippi,” Lassen said. Lassen said the store works well with the bigger cooking stores around Birmingham, such as WilliamsSonoma, and enjoys participating in Market Day, a one-day sidewalk sale for Mountain Brook Village merchants, and other Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce events. The Cook Store also holds sales twice a year. Beyond the storefront, Lassen sells items on shopmountainbrook. com and features cooking items and fun recipes such as chocolate chip cookies made with caramel cake mix, on Facebook and Twitter. “I recently started sharing things online, and I love it,” Lassen said.

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Restaurant Showcase

Read past Restaurant Showcases at villagelivingonline.com

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By KATHLEEN BUCCLEUGH Offering full-service catering, a little-known submenu of healthy options and a choice of fresh, frozen or hot takeout, Dish’n It Out brings something rather unique to the Crestline Park area of Birmingham. Owners Jennifer and Joseph Fuller said the best-selling entrées on the menu, which come in sizes ranging from mini (one serving) to large (10-12 servings), are Chicken Pot Pie topped with biscuits, Chicken Tetrazzini with Swiss — “people know it and love it” — and the Shrimp and Artichoke Bake over wild rice with a Parmesan béchamel sauce. One thing that appeals to repeat customers, Joseph said, is the casseroles and their homemade quality. “We get to know a bunch of [the customers]. They’ll bring over their casserole dishes with their name in it. We’ll cook it in their dish, especially around the holidays,” he said. “We’ll do the turkey for them as well, but sometimes we cook it in their dishes for them so it’s ‘homemade.’” But in addition to the set takeout menu, which also features hors d’oeuvres, salads, soups, other entrées, sides and desserts, Joseph said he has been designing a special, order-ahead menu of “light, clean

1111 Dunston Ave. 871-5444 Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. dishnitout.com

ORDER IN ADVANCE Call at least 24 hours ahead for: • hot meals of any portion size • delivery service • catering • healthy menu options

(above) Co-owners Jennifer and Joseph Fuller bought Dish’n It Out from a longtime friend in 2011. (left) The Salad Trio Plate includes tarragon chicken salad, pimiento cheese and fresh fruit with assorted crackers and costs $8. Photos by Kathleen Buccleugh.

food” each week for Black Market Fitness clients, and anybody else interested in seeing that menu should call for details. “We’ve got it down to where the food tastes really good,” Jennifer said. The catering or group menu, requiring 24-hour advance ordering, features per-person pricing for items like breakfast soufflé, various sandwiches, entrée salads and hot entrées, and comes with plates, napkins, utensils, cups, drinks and ice. Customers do not have to order from the group menu to take advantage of the delivery service.

“A lot of people send food to people who move into town or who get out of the hospital or have babies. We’ll deliver food to them all over the place [with a fee],” Joseph said. Dish’n It Out is flanked by several other businesses, including Saw’s Juke Joint and Birmingham Bicycle Company. “Our neighbors in this building bring in so much volume … [which is] very helpful for us. It brings in a lot of people that would never know where to find us,” Jennifer said. “Everybody in this building is friends. It’s a really nice family.”

In fact, Jennifer was once one of those neighbors. She co-established The Open Door restaurant, but eventually Jennifer began working part-time at Dish’n It Out. “I came in to help [the previous owner] for a month or two, and I never left,” she said. In 2011, with about five years of experience working at Dish’n It Out and faced with the opportunity to purchase it from the longtime friend, Jennifer said she felt the decision was easy. “[The original owner] had two babies right in a row, and she wanted to sell it to someone who cared about

it and knew about it,” she said. “This opportunity was right in our face. It was kind of thrown at [us]. I couldn’t say no to it, honestly. It was a great business; it was established.” Joseph, who also had experience in the restaurant business, agreed that ownership was the next step for them. “It was a really natural progression.” Although they liked Dish’n It Out’s menu, the Fullers changed a few of the dishes and added some of their own recipes, too. “We have made a lot of changes to the menu,” Jennifer said. “We are cooking a lot with fresher ingredients. We added a lot of things to the menu, [such as] seafood dishes, lots of different kinds of soups.” The Fullers said they would love to expand one day and open another location, but for now, they are enjoying Dish’n It Out’s home in Crestline Park. “We have some of the nicest customers. We really do,” Jennifer said.

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Village Living

Chamber to hold holiday open houses in villages The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce will welcome the holiday season with its annual holiday open houses in each of the villages. Merchants will be running specials throughout each evening, allowing

the whole family to enjoy businesses, boutiques and restaurants in the area. Some merchants will offer special during the day, and all will extend their normal business hours into the evening.

Thursday, Nov. 21: Crestline Village Holiday Open House, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4: English Village, Time TBA Thursday, Dec. 5: Mountain Brook Village, Time TBA Visit welcometomountainbrook.com for more.

What are you thankful for? In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is easy to overlook the good things we have and what we are truly thankful for. When I stop to contemplate my life, I find that in reality I am a very lucky person and there are many things I am thankful for. I am thankful for my wife and my boys. Without them my life would not be as rich and full as it is. I am also thankful for my health, which is a part of our lives that we sometimes take for granted. Friends, oh how thankful I am for the many friends I have made over the years. They are such an important part of my life. Finally, I am thankful for God giving me a strong sense of faith to live my life as he wants me to and to understand the unconditional love he has for us. Yes, there are many things that I am truly thankful for. I just need to slow down and appreciate them more. -Rusty Boylan

I am so thankful that my three siblings and parents and my husband’s six siblings and mother live in Birmingham. I am blessed with a wonderful family! -Meredith Cashio

I am thankful for God’s grace and love for us all and his patience with me. It’s somewhat amusing yet quite comforting as God regularly reminds me that I’m not in charge. I’m hopeful that he and I will have a good laugh over this one day. -Mark Robertson

Mountain Brook Chamber Luncheon • November 14

Sponsored by

What’s Your Next Move? John McGill, RealtySouth • Dot Mash, LAH Real Estate Wilmer Poynor, Ray & Poynor Properties

Come learn what you need to know about the current real estate market from our panel of experts!

November 14

Doors open at 11, luncheon begins at 11:30 Park Lane in English Village Register at welcometomountainbrook.com or call the Chamber office at 871-3779

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A13

Take the stress out of the holiday season Thanksgiving options in Mountain Brook By KATIE TURPEN

casserole. Tracy’s also offers pies for the classic Thanksgiving dessert.

This fall, Mountain Brook residents have a variety of options to ease the stress of Thanksgiving meal preparation. Local restaurants, grocery stores, catering companies and bakeries offer everything from side dishes to turkey to desserts.

ff Whole Foods will take care of the entire event and

ff Magic Mufﬁns on Overton Road offers cornbread

gourmet meals to-go and has several Thanksgiving specials including traditional side dishes such as casseroles, green beans, yeast rolls and a roasted vegetable medley. Also on the menu will be desserts available in two sizes, one serving four to five people and a larger one serving 10 to 12 people. Two popular items are the homemade cranberry relish and the giblet gravy, which come in pint and quart sizes. Previous holiday desserts have included caramel apple cheesecake and pumpkin gingerbread trifle. Turkeys are offered but by a limited availability.

dressing, squash casserole, sweet potato casserole with nuts and turkey hash potpie. The restaurant also offers themed cookies and cakes.

ff For dessert lovers, Gia’s Cakes in Crestline Village offers desserts that are perfect for the holidays, including layer cakes, smash cakes, homemade popsicles, bon bons, cupcakes, chocolates and pralines.

ff Tracy’s Casseroles and Café, located on Church

Street in Crestline, offers casseroles that are ready to bake and serve and are available to order online. The casseroles can also be purchased from local stores such as the Piggly Wiggly in Homewood and Clairmont and Western Supermarket in Mountain Brook. Casseroles come in four varieties: broccoli, cornbread dressing, macaroni and cheese and squash

RECIPE

offers family-sized packages that include the turkey and gourmet side dishes. For more information, visit wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/birmingham.

ff Dish’n It Out in Crestline Park offers home-style

For those who are feeling creative and want a main dish that is not turkey, look no further than a page out of the Junior League of Birmingham’s cookbook. Below is a recipe for their Rosemary Ginger Pork Tenderloin, a unique twist on the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Rosemary Ginger Pork Tenderloin Junior League of Birmingham Tables of Content Cookbook, page 193

2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed 1 (12-ounce) jar apricot preserves 1 (5-ounce) bottle light teriyaki sauce 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger Place the tenderloins in a large heavy-duty sealable plastic bag or in a shallow dish. Mix

the preserves, teriyaki sauce, rosemary and ginger in a bowl and pour over the tenderloins. Seal tightly and turn to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or for up to 8 hours, turning occasionally. Drain the tenderloins, reserving the marinade. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Bring the reserved marinate to a boil in a small saucepan

and set aside. Arrange the tenderloins in a baking pan and bake for 25 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest portion registers 155 degrees, basting frequently with the reserved marinade. Remove from oven and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes or until meat thermometer registers 160 degrees.

The Junior League of Birmingham cookbook features more than 350 recipes and an introduction by Alabama’s Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Bragg.

A14 • November 2013

Village Living

Get to Know John Kincaid

Choir Director, Mountain Brook High School How long have you been at MBHS and where had you taught before? This is my third year at MBHS. Previously I taught choir at Simmons Middle School in the Hoover school system for 15 years. Were you involved in choral programs growing up? My mother is the music minister at Saint Mark United Methodist in Vestavia Hills, so I grew up singing in her children’s choirs and productions. I was in the Birmingham Boys Choir under the direction of Ken Berg and was heavily involved in the choral program at Berry High School under Diana Mayhall. I also played baseball and ran cross-country for Berry High School. It was difficult to manage all the different aspects of these, but it worked. It seems that our culture has shifted now so that young people are almost forced into deciding what their skills are and whom they should be before they have even had time to explore. I went to college at BirminghamSouthern and wanted to double major in music education and civil engineering. You can’t major in

both, so I chose music education because I loved working with kids (I was a youth director for three years in college). So I really did not know what I wanted to do even then. I think I finally decided when I stumbled into the position at Simmons (long story) that this is what I should be doing. How many different choral groups are there now? There are four choirs that meet during the school day, with Women’s Choir being split into two separate classes. Honors Choir, Chamber Choir and Men’s Choir make up the rest of those. A Bunch of Guys a cappella ensemble is the only group that meets outside of school.

How many students participate in choir? There are 245 students as of today.

What are the big performances that take place each year? The fall show “21st Century Brookie” was in October. The Winter Concert is open to the public on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the MBHS Fine Arts Center. The Spring Concert is open

to the public on May 5 at 7 p.m. with the location to be determined. On April 10, 12, 13 and 14, the spring musical, “Once on This Island,” will be performed. This is a joint production involving the theater (Jesse Tilton and Gary Weatherly), band (Frank Blanton) and choral departments at MBHS. Tickets are required for this. The Fall Show has become quite an event, complete with choreography. What goes into such a huge performance involving so many students? It is a large production, and it takes a lot of people to make it happen. Todd Underwood, our choreographer who lives and works in New York, comes down at the beginning of summer. We spend a week working with the choir president (Austin Russell for 2013-2014) and my wife, who teaches at Simmons Middle School but also freelances as a choreographer, to put together a show centering around a theme. It requires anywhere from 35-45 songs to be able to make a viable show of this size. We divide the songs into medleys. This year we had

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nine different medleys that had about three to four songs each. We attempt to mix in different moods into each medley but focus on energetic, positive songs. David McNeeley then arranges the songs into choral transcriptions and develops accompaniment tracks for the show. Todd comes back to town after school and starts to teach. We have seven weeks from the first day of school to learn and memorize both the music and the choreography. I am amazed every year that these kids can do it. We have a wealth of

talent at MBHS, and the kids work so hard to make this show successful. They are so involved in so many other activities that it really is awe inspiring to see their commitment and effort.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working at MBHS? I have a 7-year-old son, a 2-yearold daughter and the best wife ever. I love spending time with them doing whatever we can. Soccer, yardwork, hiking — anything with them is the best.

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A15

School House

Boosterthon time

20/20 or bust

By LISA STONE The Crestline Boosterthon Fun Run was held in September. Boosterthon, which incorporates an educational component, helps build a sense of community in each classroom as well as raise money for the school. Its unique team approach rewards classrooms for their group effort and allows the students to vote on what they want to purchase for their classroom with the gift cards they win. In its seventh year, the fundraiser was extremely successful. The funds raised this year will go toward changing the look of the school’s classrooms to a more collaborative setup and toward the professional development of all Crestline teachers.

Eliska Hood, Emmaline Stewart, Wels Holman, Caroline Hellums and Kate Ryan from Jennifer Preston’s “Pinkalicious Perfect Party Rocking Pickles” class get ready to run the Boosterthon Fun Run. Students Guy Mitchell, Sophie Hicks and Sutton Dodd pose with Dr. Kathleen Gee and two members of her staff.

Picnic beginnings

By HILARY ROSS Have you ever wondered what happens during vision screening at your child’s elementary school? Thanks to screening, several children have the opportunity to learn whether they are having visual difficulties. I asked Drennan Cooper, PTO chairman for vision screening, what takes place when your child is checked. “MBE partners with a local doctor and parents volunteer to check each child to make sure they can read the appropriate line on the eye chart from a distance of 20 feet,” she said. “This year, Dr. Kathleen Gee of the

By KATHLEEN WOODRY Many families and friends came out in September to celebrate the new school year and have fun on the Brookwood Forest Elementary fields and playground. Families brought dinners or pre-ordered meals with Jim ‘N Nick’s. Music was provided by Boosterthon. Hudson Miller, a first grader at BWF, poses with his younger sister and parents, Emily and Adam Miller.

practice Lawaczeck, McKinnon, Feagin, Carter and Gee, P.C. sponsored the screening, and we had 28 PTO parent volunteers.” Volunteers work in teams of two to verify a student can read letters (grades 1-6) or symbols (kindergarten) on a chart. If a child misreads the letter or symbol or shows difficulty, the student is sent to Gee in the auditorium for a more thorough follow-up. If she thinks the student’s vision is blurred, she sends a note to the school nurse as well as to the parents that it is recommended the child see an eye doctor for further screening.

Your initial exam is always COMPLIMENTARY!

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A16 • November 2013

Village Living

Crestline Student Council

At the hop

By LISA STONE Crestline Student Council gives fourth through sixth graders the opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the school. In September, 19 student council members participated in a leadership skills training program called “Camp Cougar.” They learned how to present in front of groups by role playing both in engaging and ineffective speech making. Council members have also been challenged to help sustain the five character traits brought to the school by the Boosterthon program. They will be going into lower grade classrooms and discussing each of the traits with the younger children. These traits include: Show Respect for Others, S.O.S. (Shout Out Strengths), Stick Together, Have a Positive Attitude, and Be a Good Sport. The student council has also visited Brookville Elementary, Crestline’s adopted school, to deliver goods collected from students at Crestline.

Crestline Student Council Officers: Laurel Hand (secretary), Jane Gresham (publicity), Charles Regan (president), Leigh Block (vice president), Mary Grace Lorino (vice president).

Cherokee Bend kicks off gift-wrap sales Lindsay Davis and Jeb Sims enjoy the hop.

By CATHERINE GASQUE On Nov. 1, Innisbrook gift wrap sales will begin at Cherokee Bend Elementary. Gift-wrap chairs Elizabeth Edwards and Jeamer Nichols have been hard at work and are excited to bring the fundraiser back to CBS. They have organized the promotion of the online sale as well as contests among the classes to highlight top sellers. To order your gift wrap for either holidays or other celebrations, contact your favorite Cherokee Bend Chief to help you with your online order or email Joanna Hufham at jdhufham@yahoo.com.

By KATHLEEN WOODRY The Brookwood Forest Elementary auditorium was decked out in fun ’50s décor for the sixth grade sock hop. Students were all sporting party attitudes and great outfits and came ready to dance. Music was provided by JAMM entertainment; kids were able to go online ahead of time to select songs they wanted to hear, which was a big hit. Prizes were donated by Sugar and 32 Degrees, Crestline. Future activities for the BWF sixth graders will be tailgating, a service project, ice skating, another dance, roller skating and breakfast. Sixth Grade Graduation Committee chairs are Janet Krueger, Bridget Sikora and Ila Worthen.

Margaret Nichols and Sarah Welles Edwards, both fourth graders at CBS, display some of the choices of Innisbrook gift wrap available for their school fundraiser.

OVER 700 BOOTHS! November 7-10, 2013 Public Shopping Convention Complex

(205) 836-7173 Call for Ticket Info or visit www.christmasvillagefestival.com

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A17

Desks get cutting edge upgrade at MBHS

Students sit at one of the new desks being tested at MBHS.

By SUZANNE MILLIGAN The lowly school desk is getting a makeover at Mountain Brook High School. Just as styles change and concepts come into vogue, the idea of how a student learns and spends class time is getting attention in today’s learning environment. The wooden desk reigned 100 years ago, and then the metal desk gained popularity. Today, 21st century teaching skills require collaboration, creativity and innovation. Principal Amanda Hood is addressing this issue by taking new research on how students interact and applying it to foster a better education for our children. In an interview recently with Hood, she showed me the new desk formations that Mountain Brook currently has under consideration in the library. “Kids like to carve out spaces to work,” she said. In this way, new, comfortable, accessible spaces that encourage exchange of ideas are

being created in the mall, the library and eventually into a classroom transformation. After an initial trial phase, teachers will decide what works for each subject area. One set of desks has rolling chairs and a desk feature that can be placed in rows or easily moved into group formations. Another learning area, called a media scape, is a device-oriented bar. It measures 38 inches high and 5 feet wide. Attached to one end is a screen that measures 38 inches wide by 23 inches high. A plug-in bank in the middle of the table allows multiple users to tap a round button on the cord to connect with other users at the table with computer, phone or iPad. Ideas develop through talking as research expands on subject-oriented topics. Learning styles have evolved from textural book-oriented to visual device -oriented with the advent of computer proliferation. These new seating arrangements will encourage students to communicate in groups helping to foster ideas and grow as lifelong learners.

Flash mob fever hits MBJH

Spartanettes Lee Knight, Katie Foy, Caroline Cross and Brantley Goodman prepare to strike their zombie poses before the pep rally.

By ELIZABETH FARRAR On Oct. 3, students at MBJH expected a regular pep rally in support of the incredible season for the volleyball, cross country and seventh- and eighth-grade football teams. What they found when they entered the competition gym was something a little different. Almost 100 students dressed in ragged black T-shirts were scattered in clumps across the gym floor and in the bleachers. They were motionless and silent as the classes took their places in the gym. As the last student took his seat, the student “zombies” suddenly came to life as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” began to play. The theme for the October pep rally was the ’80s. The seventh graders dressed in their preppy best, the eighth graders were in full ’80s neon, and the ninth graders showed up as ’80s rockers. Despite the theme, no one guessed what was coming until the music filled the gym.

The seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade cheerleaders, the seventh-grade dance team, the Spartanettes and the drama club had been practicing and keeping their secret for a week. All six MBJH groups came together to create a flash mob, dancing and paying tribute to a classic ’80s moment. Not to be left out, several of the male teachers burst into the gym just as the pep rally was ending and called the crowd to a halt. Coach Derek Jones, a seventh-grade social studies teacher, led a rally cry that sent the other teachers into their own dance, “Gangnam Style.” Soon they were joined by a few ninth graders, including Sims Herron, Elan Anthony, Harrison Weaver and Swaim Davis. With the wave of a hand, half of the seventh-grade class jumped to their feet to create a flash mob of their own. The bar has been set high for the next MBJH pep rally scheduled to occur during basketball season.

A18 • November 2013

Village Living

Cherokee Bend Elementary recognizes retirees

Flag Men of MBE

Flag Men of MBE Clark Griffin, Brooks Statham, Will Dobbins, Dudley Lawson, Lawton Miller, Ben Harris, Jack Higgins and Hughes Hancock.

By HILARY ROSS

Retiring teachers Donna Phillips, Diane Hilburn, Cathey May and Dr. Greg Odrezin. Photo courtesy of Aimee Forbus.

By CATHERINE BODNAR Four faculty and staff members at Cherokee Bend ended their years of service to the school with their retirement last May. The retirees include Diane Hilburn, Cathey May, Dr. Greg Odrezin and Donna Phillips. Hilburn worked in the Mountain Brook School System for 28 years as a special education teacher. She had two years of experience prior to joining the system. She retired with a total of 30 years in education working with students with special needs. Cathey May was a sixth-grade teacher at Cherokee Bend. She worked in Mountain

Brook Schools for 12 years and 16 years outside the district. She retired with a total of 28 years of experience in education. Odrezin was a sixth grade math teacher at Cherokee Bend. He had worked at Cherokee Bend for 14 years and for two years outside the system, for a total of 16 years in education. Prior to going into education, Odrezin was a physician and practiced medicine in the Birmingham area. Phillips was the receptionist and registrar for Cherokee Bend. She had served as the school bookkeeper prior to taking that position. She worked at Cherokee Bend for a total of 23 years.

Eight Mountain Brook Elementary students comprise the Flag Men for the school. The morning crew of Ben Harris, Dudley Lawson, Hughes Hancock and Jack Higgins report to duty to raise the flag on the front plaza of the school at 7:35 a.m. The afternoon crew, which lowers the flag at 1:30 p.m. and folds it for storage are Brooks Statham, Clark Griffin, Will Dobbins and Lawton Miller. While there is no official selection process, students affiliated with Boy Scouts usually volunteer because they have been trained in how to raise, lower and fold the flag. “It is so helpful to have volunteers who know the presentation of the colors and all that the ceremony entails,” sponsor Shannon Millhouse

said. “We like to think of our students who volunteer for flag patrol as our Flag Men.” In addition to performing a flag ceremony on Boosterthon Fun Run Day, the boys also keep abreast of current events that warrant flying the flag at half-mast. “Flying our flag at half-mast has occurred on two occasions this school year: remembering 9/11 and in honor of those lost in the recent Washington, D.C. naval shipyard shootings,” Hughes Hancock said. “Flying our nation’s flag is a good way to support our country,” Brooks Statham added. The Flag Men are considered part of safety patrol and get the added perk of going to Alabama Splash Adventure in May as reward for their service.

Altamont students named National Merit Semi-finalists

Forty-seven percent of the senior class at The Altamont School were recognized as either a SemiFinalist or a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship program. Mountain Brook students recognized were James Ozment, Jonathan Hurowitz, Andy Vahle and Laure Bender.

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A19

MBJH students raise $11,000 for MS

Eighth graders organized a kickball tournament to raise money for people with multiple sclerosis.

Last month, a group of 98 eighth graders at Mountain Brook Junior High came together to raise $11,000 for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Twelve teams of boys and girls faced off at Mountain Brook High School in a kickball tournament to raise awareness and funds for the National MS Society, Alabama-Mississippi Chapter. The students hit their neighborhoods to raise money by holding bake sales, lemonade stands, raffles and letter writing campaigns. “It was amazing to see these kids come together on their own and decide to make a difference in this community,” said Ashley Powell, who has been diagnosed with MS since 2011. “I was overwhelmed when I saw all these great kids take a lot of time and responsibility on their own to start this new event.”

The idea began in the early summer during a baseball dugout conversation among some of the eighth-grade players. “We were in the dugout talking between games about the fact we had been thinking about Liam’s mom because she had been diagnosed with MS,” said Hamp Sisson, who ultimately organized the event. “Our teammate, Ford Clegg, said that his mom had it, too. That made us start thinking that if two guys in our one dugout had moms with MS then a lot of kids our age probably have moms that suffer from it, too. So we decided then that we wanted to do something to help!” To learn more about multiple sclerosis and the service programs the National MS Society offers, visit nationalMSsociety.org/alc. -Submitted by National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Alabama-Mississippi Chapter

A20 • November 2013

Village Living

MARKET from pg A1

eight-month supply for the city of Birmingham. The specifics of the market vary by neighborhood and the price range, according to Poynor. “The bulk of the market is $1 million and under, and that segment of the market is very healthy,” he said. “For instance, we had a $400,000 home listed that had multiple showings and multiple offers in one day.” However, the $2 million plus segment is a challenging market, according to Poynor. Last year from Jan. 1 to Oct. 16, only one home in this range was sold. This year during the same time, five homes have been sold. Overall, though, Mountain Brook is healthy, Millie Osborn of RealtySouth emphasized. As of Oct. 16, 302 residential real estate transactions closed this year with homes selling within 96 percent of list price. As of the same date, 122 homes were on the market with 17 of those under contract. Home prices range from $257,000 to $3.9 million. “With the home inventory down, the housing market has been much better to the seller this year,” Osborn said. “If a home is priced competitively, it has a greater chance of being sold rather quickly. If a home has been on the market for a while, it is possible the seller bought in the upturn, paying a higher price and now cannot price the home well.” To flesh out what this market means for buyers and sellers, Village Living talked with Dot Mash of LAH Real Estate, Millie Osborn of RealtySouth and Wilmer Poynor of Ray & Poyner — all panelists for the Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon this month. How has the market gotten to this point following the buyers’ market that reigned for the past several years? Dot Mash: Part of it is due to pent-up demand from buyers not participating due to financial uncertainty. This generation buys on credit because they do not want to wait for the things

Chamber of Commerce Luncheon What to know about the current real estate market in Mountain Brook Panel moderated by Mike Royer of Alabama’s 13 Nov. 14, 11 a.m. Park Lane, English Village $25 members, $30 nonmembers welcometomountainbrook.com

they want. Now that buyers have had to wait for several years, a lot of them have had more children and are still living in the same house as before. They could not sell their house if no one was buying, but now they can afford more expensive houses; that allows people to come into lower-priced houses. People are wanting to buy before the rates go up. Millie Osborn: Consumer confidence has led to low interest rates, making it more beneficial for many to buy in lieu of renting. As inventory has gotten lower, demand has increased. Wilmer Poynor: In part, we have an unbelievable school system that helps drive our market. That never went away, but it has helped us bounce back. How do you see the market changing over the upcoming months and year? WP: I’m optimistic that we are going to continue to improve, but it’s hard to predict. MO: Buyers, sellers and Realtors look forward to a promising year. However, the success of the upcoming year will depend on the status of interest rates, job security and fallout from the government shutdown. DM: If the economy holds, the real estate should remain steady, but who knows if the economy is going to hold. I don’t think it will

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be a boom like we saw several years ago. What is important for buyers to know now? MO: In today’s market if buyers see a home that fits their needs and it is priced competitively, they should not hesitate to make an offer. The buyer should rely on the knowledge and expertise of their chosen Realtor. We are now seeing multiple offers on homes, something we have not seen in a few years. The offers on homes are more relative to asking price. DM: The market is not a market to make low offers to a seller. Buyers are still seeing some TV programs about giving low offers to sellers, but in the Mountain Brook market, that’s not working. Activity is such that the sellers are not considering low offers. They can wait for a better offer. WP: In Mountain Brook, the vast majority of market are “used” homes. You are not buying a new product. The condition of a 70 or 80-yearold home may not be up to today’s home standards, but there may be nothing wrong with it. You have to understand you are not buying a brand-new perfect home. You are going to have to work on home maintenance, and that costs a lot of money. Buyers also need to be prepared when they make their offer and have their financing lined up before they start looking so that when it’s

time to make an offer, they know what they are going to do. What is most important for sellers to know now? WP: Pricing, presentation and condition are extremely important when putting your home on the market. You need these things regardless of your price range and how active it is. If you don’t have those things, you are going to have a tough time selling your house. DM: They should consider the list price suggested by their agent. A lot of times they will go off an appraisal from three months ago, but it may not reflect the current value. The market changes daily, and we have that information. Sellers only have one opportunity to make a good impression to a buyer. Agents know what a house needs to look like to look appealing, and they [sellers] need to do what they suggest. If a property is priced right and in good condition, it will be gone within a day or so of going on the market. You can’t always sleep on it. MO: Price your home competitively, but don’t price your home out of market. Listen to your Realtor, as first showings are important. Sellers need to put on a buyer’s hat and look at their home through buyer’s eyes.

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ A21

Mountain Brook Real Estate Listings Active MLS listings by elementary school zoning as of Oct. 15, 2013 Brookwood Forest Elementary 2780 Glass Drive 3724 Forest Run Road 3342 Overton Road 3731 Forest Run Road 3630 Knightsbridge Road 3332 Dunbrooke Road 3305 Sandhurst Road 3336 N. Woodridge Road 3308 Stoneridge Drive 3814 Dunbarton Drive 3713 Dover Drive 3716 Dover Drive 3845 Valley Head Road 3028 Brook Hollow Lane 3557 Springhill Road 3633 Springhill Road 3601 Springhill Road 3752 Village Lane 3970 Spring Valley Road 3623 Locksley Drive 3510 River Bend Road

$257,000 $269,500 $275,000 $279,000 $349,900 $358,000 $359,000 $359,900 $389,900 $399,900 $399,900 $449,000 $500,000 $525,000 $525,000 $555,000 $749,900 $789,000 $849,000 $899,900 $1,395,000

Cherokee Bend Elementary 4322 Wilderness Road, #W 4355 Little River Road, #L 4339 Little River Road, #L 4367 Wilderness Court, #WC 4011 Old Leeds Lane 3517 Old Leeds Court 4237 Harpers Ferry Road 3765 Crestbrook Road 3605 Rockhill Road 4205 Atietam Drive 4141 Old Leeds Lane 3556 Spring Valley Terrace 52 Cross Creek 3429 Brookwood Road 4268 Sharpsburg Drive 4979 Spring Rock Road 3533 Old Leeds Court 4950 Cold Harbor Drive

$122,500 $122,900 $180,000 $193,000 $339,000 $399,000 $399,000 $399,900 $435,000 $437,500 $458,500 $524,900 $549,000 $575,000 $579,900 $585,900 $619,900 $625,000

4323 Kennesaw Drive 4604 Pine Mountain Road 4624 Pine Mountain Road 3509 Branch Mill Road 3538 Victoria Road 42 Cross Creek Drive 4700 Old Leeds Road 4132 Old Leeds Road 3225 Brookwood Road

$629,900 $639,000 $684,000 $719,900 $799,900 $848,000 $995,000 $1,650,000 $3,189,000

Crestline Elementary 3951 Montclair Road, #3951 3949 Montclair Road, #3949 904 Sims Avenue, #A 124 Memory Court, #A 116 Memory Court, #C 301 Morningside Circle, #301 3824 Montclair Road, #10 203 Morningside Circle, #203 111 Lorena Lane 138 Mountain Brook Park Drive, #D6 98 Country Club Blvd. 4075 Montevallo Road 408 Michael Lane 234 Richmar Drive 3924 Forest Ave. 335 Cherry St. 1015 Euclid Ave. 3507 Pine Ridge Road 3500 Montevallo Road 3635 Old Leeds Road 155 Fairmont Drive 18 Honeysuckle Lane 3829 South Cove Drive 208 Fairmont Drive 2 Shady Lane 14 Ridge Drive

$99,000 $99,000 $129,200 $147,500 $156,000 $229,000 $229,000 $231,000 $299,000 $320,000 $359,900 $365,000 $399,999 $399,000 $499,900 $540,000 $569,000 $575,000 $599,900 $629,000 $699,000 $1,080,000 $1,550,000 $1,750,000 $2,295,000 $2,890,000

Mountain Brook Elementary 3825 Buckingham Lane 2903 Virginia Road 535 Olde English Lane, #535

$339,900 $389,000 $399,900

4415 Briarglen Circle 515 Olde English Lane, #515 4462 Briarglen Drive 2801 Overton Road 2690 Pump House Road 533 Olde English Lane, #533 3025 Fairway Drive 2844 Pump House Road 2411 South Park Lane 2213 Sterlingwood Drive 1520 Amherst Circle 2331 Brook Manor Drive, #11C 3377 Overbrook Road 4509 Old Brook Way 4444 Cahaba River Road 2636 Abingdon Road 2463 Fairway Drive 3234 Country Club Road 2821 Shook Hill Circle 2309 Brook Manor Drive, #16 321 Greenwood Street 2808 Shook Hill Circle 3305 Montevallo Road 3220 Sterling Road 2849 Shook Hill Road 2825 Balmoral Road 2924 Surrey Road 2750 Pump House Road 3229 Rockledge Road 2447 Abingdon 454 Botanical Place 2857 Pump House Road 2865 Canterbury Road 3829 Shook Hill Circle 3200 Fernway Road 3505 Salisbury Road 2716 Southwood Road 3309 Dell Road 3012 Southwood Road 2965 Briarcliff Road 2704 Woodridge Road

$409,000 $409,900 $416,500 $425,000 $470,000 $475,000 $475,000 $475,000 $539,000 $649,800 $699,000 $740,000 $789,000 $799,900 $875,000 $893,000 $899,000 $925,000 $985,000 $989,000 $1,100,000 $1,150,000 $1,165,000 $1,195,000 $1,250,000 $1,250,000 $1,295,000 $1,299,000 $1,350,000 $1,395,000 $1,599,000 $1,695,000 $1,719,900 $1,850,000 $1,975,000 $2,195,000 $2,699,000 $3,385,000 $3,395,000 $3,595,000 $3,900,000

A22 • November 2013

HOME from pg A1

sustenance but a reminder that one more month is down, and Jay is one month closer to coming home. At the Skinners’ house, yellow ribbons hang in a tree in the front yard and from a wreath on the front door made by Kathy’s 3-year-old preschool class at Independent Presbyterian Church. A flag with a star in the middle sits in a front window just as it does in the homes of other soldiers deployed with Jay. An avid technology user, Jay has stayed as connected as he can with his family via text, email, FaceTime, cell phone and Skype. Kathy has texted him photos of everything from their kids’ progress reports to a paper that she is

Village Living

(left) The Skinner children bid their father good-bye when he left for deployment in January. (top) The Skinners present a special sign to their dad, Jay, on Father’s Day this year. (right) Henry Skinner, 11, took a picture in front a special flag commemorating his dad’s employment before leaving for ballroom dancing lessons. Photos courtesy of the Skinner family.

unsure where to file. Every morning Kathy has woken up to a new email from Jay. From eight time zones away, he times his daily message to arrive with the sunrise. Kathy has saved all of them in a special file on her computer to later print. When daughter Hollon turned 15, she texted him just after she earned her driver’s permit. For son Henry’s 11th birthday in the spring, Jay Skyped with all fifth graders at Crestline Elementary. But there has been tangible communication as well. Kathy has mailed him jars of Peter Pan peanut butter, his favorite, after she learned that the store in Kuwait only sells Jif. Students from all the grades at Crestline have posted letters for Jay via postal service, and he has written them back.

Jay also arranged to have an American flag flown in Kuwait in honor of Crestline students and one in honor of Boy Scout Troop 28 at Independent Presbyterian Church. After they flew there, Jay shipped them back to Birmingham with a certificate, and both are now on display at Crestline. Jay said his life in Kuwait looks like the movie Groundhog Day, where he manages the day-to-day operations of the one-star command’s legal office at Camp Arifjan and serves as the administrative law and operational law officer for the command. “Unlike at home where you are constantly going from event to event, we are able to focus on projects and missions without having to also figure in carpool, cooking dinner, getting kids to school and so on,” he said. “My wife has to do all that, and I will be the first to admit she has

the harder job.” His days have been spent in an office answering legal questions and advising staff on legal matters, and his meals all come cafeteriastyle at the camp dining facility. He said the food is “okay, but nothing to write home about.” That routine will shift this month when he returns home. After eating Golden Rule barbecue, his favorite, Jay looks forward to resuming day-today life, practicing real estate law and spending time with his family and close friends at St. Francis. But perhaps most of all, Jay anticipates sitting in a rocking chair on the porch at his family’s “happy place,” a cabin in Mentone, and watching the sun set through the trees. He knows there will be green there.

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A23

Not alone

Major Jay Skinner’s daughter, Hollon, captured her emotions in an essay for her ninth-grade English class at MBJH

By HOLLON SKINNER Tears stung my eyes as I watched him line up. It was 6:30 in the morning. I was wearing my glasses and my hair was half-brushed, but none of that mattered. Before I knew it, I was waving goodbye to a bus as tears flowed freely down my face. It’s like the whole world was going in slow motion as the bus pulled away. My eyes never left that bus until it was nothing but a speck in the distance. My heart felt like weights, weighing me down with each step I took. My older brother rested his hand on my shoulder for comfort with not a trace of tears in his eyes. My mother, who was trying her best to stay strong, was hugging onto my younger brother as they both cried. I looked past my family and at all the other families that surrounded me. They were crying and hugging each other, just like us. In that single moment, an idea that I have had thought many times before whittled its way back into my mind — I was not alone. I am not alone. I have thought this many times before, and at the moment it seemed to click. My dad, Major Thomas J. Skinner, is a JAG officer in the Alabama Army National Guard. His unit is made of 250 men and women, which means 250 families are being left behind. Families just like mine. Once again, I was not alone. When it was time for my dad to come home for the weekend before he flew to the Middle East, I sat in my class all jittery and anxious. I was waiting for my mom and dad to come get me. Finally, the time came, and the teacher told me I was checking out. My emotions overcame me as I ran to my dad, who stood at the front desk awaiting me. Dropping all my bags, I clung to my dad like a sloth on a tree as small happy tears fell down my face. After a while, I pulled away and noticed the girls standing in the door crying happy tears. I blushed not knowing I had an audience, but it

Henry, Thomas and Hollon Skiner pose in front of their house for a photo to send to their dad on Memorial Day. Photo courtesy of the Skinner family.

didn’t matter. I grabbed my daddy’s hand as he led us out to the car. Just one weekend and the following Monday was all I had until he left us once more. Joy overwhelmed me, gluing a smile on my face that wouldn’t go away. Here we were sitting at one

of my dad’s favorite restaurants as he told us his stories. I didn’t listen. I was too busy soaking in the fact that my dad was home. My mind kept bringing me back to the other families who must be feeling the same joy as me. As I lay in my bed that Sunday night, a sad realization flushed

over me. I wished to never fall asleep, for in the morning, he would be leaving us again. The next day there we were once again, my bags on the floor as I clung onto my dad in the school office. I held on to my dad, not wanting to ever let go. The time came, and I reluctantly peeled myself off my dad. I slowly picked up my bags, blinking back tears threatening to escape. Waving one last goodbye, I slowly walked to my locker. Turning around, I noticed one tear slide down my father’s face. It was as if I was a piece of glass being dropped onto the floor, shattering. I couldn’t take it, and turning the corner, I let the tears fall as I tried to hide my face. The rest of the day was a blur. It was as if I was the walking dead that at the touch would crumple into a million pieces. I was feeling pity for myself when something hit me. I am not alone. I sit here crying for myself when other families just like me might be going through worse. Some mothers were pregnant, and those babies will be born without their daddy around. I feel sorry for myself and I feel I am selfish. I want people to feel sorry for me. I want to feel sorry for me and only me. Even if I try to think of someone else, there is no way of escaping it. I will always be selfish because that is what makes me human. It was a hard realization that I already knew but couldn’t grasp. Everything happening with my dad helps me understand more. Life will bring you down, but you can’t spend your whole life feeling sorry for yourself. I am not saying it’s not okay to pity yourself; it is good in some cases. It’s only bad when you forget that you are not alone. It doesn’t even have to be as drastic as mine to realize you’re not alone. The month is now November, the month my dad and all the other moms and dads in his unit come home. I selfishly cannot wait for his return.

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Village Living

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Arrelia, the one and only Longtime Piggly Wiggly cashier remembers her decades-long journey with her Crestline family By MADOLINE MARKHAM Customers did not file in Arrelia Callins’ checkout line when she first manned the cash register at the grocery store on Euclid Avenue. It was sometime around 1970 — Callins doesn’t remember the exact year — and she was the first black cashier at what was then Winn-Dixie. “After the Civil Rights era, people would not get in my line,” said Callins, now 70. “It would hurt my feelings so bad. I would pray and pray, and little by little they started coming into my line.” Decades later, Callins’ line at the Crestline Piggly Wiggly, which is scheduled to close Nov. 2, is often the most popular. Seldom does someone pass through whose name — and family tree — she doesn’t know. “You have to live in Crestline to know why Crestline is so special,” she said. “[The people here] showed me what Christianity really was. It’s about giving, caring and loving.” To Callins, the Pig has become more like a family than a grocery store. She has watched shoppers run into friends and proceed to talk for an hour, and she has overheard groups of friends coordinate to deliver dinners to a neighbor who has experienced tragedy.

November 2013 • A25

Community B3 Sports B14 Faith B19 Calendar B21

To Crestline, from Arre

lia

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would like to take thi s opportunity to say thank you for allo wing me the privilege to be a part of the Crestline Village family. I have ser ved here for over four decades, and I ha ve enjoyed every minute of it. When I say that I have never had a bad day at work, I mean every word. It has been a joy to be a cashier and to have the opportu nity to wait on many of your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The influence and outpo uring of love that I’ve experienced over the years as I struggled through sur geries and the passing of family memb ers has touched my family and me in wa ys that words cannot express. It has been a great journey, and I thank Go d for it. I love you, Crestline Vil lage. I will keep your love and share it with whoever has the time to listen. May the Lord bless you and keep you. Arrelia Callins stands with an original painting titled “Arrelia” that Liz Landgren, who grew up shopping at the Crestline Pig, created and sold prints of in October. The original will hang in the Emmet O’Neal Library, and Callins was given a framed print. Photo by Madoline Markham.

Callins might be tired on a Friday night, but she stays up to be sure Mountain Brook High School won its football game. Crestline resident Mary Mellen said Callins sat with their family at both her daughters’ weddings. Mellen and Callins were both pregnant with their children at the same time, and

today, 40 years into their friendship, they discuss their love of Auburn football, swap updates on their children and grandchildren, and share prayer requests with on another. “I can’t imagine not seeing her once a day,” Mellen said. “She’s been through so much with losing her mother and going through a divorce,

but she always has a smile on her face and never ever complains.” Indeed, Callins has attended weddings, bar mitzvahs, memorial services and more of her customersturned-friends. “When I haven’t seen someone in a while, I look up their address in the phone book and send them a card,” she

said. “I want to let them know I care about them and am praying for them.” Before starting work at WinnDixie, Callins attended Eleanor Goff’s School of Dressmaking at night and worked as a housekeeper and babysitter for Crestline families by

See ARRELIA | page B20

B2 A26 â&#x20AC;˘ November 2013

Village Living

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B3 November 2013 • A27

Community Tailgating event raises $62,000 for Children’s

Tom Greene, current governor of Rotary District 6860; Jason Peterson RN; Cayce Williams RRT; Michael Rogers RN; Ted Burns of North Shelby-Inverness Rotary Club; Will Haver, owner of Otey’s Tavern; and Mark Rogers RN pose at Boiling N’ Bragging.

This year’s Boiling N’ Bragging event at Otey’s Tavern raised $62,000 for Critical Care

Transport at Children’s of Alabama. Rotary District 6860 organized the festival.

Annual tailgate party to support GI cancer research Auburn and Alabama fans alike can preparty for the Iron Bowl when past games are aired on the big screen a week early. The ninth annual Finish the Fight Iron Bowl Tailgate Party will be held Thursday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Ted’s Garage, located at 2309 5th Ave. South. The event benefits the Robert E. Reed Foundation, which supports gastrointestinal cancer research at UAB under the direction of

Dr. Martin J. Heslin. Guests will enjoy complimentary wine and beer, “tailgate” food served up from local food trucks, and a silent auction. There will be live music by T.U.B The UnKnamed Band. Tickets are $85 per person, and reservations can be made at reedgifoundation. com/events. For more information, contact Kathi Ash, executive director, at 427-5085.

Going over the edge for CF On Nov. 23, you can catch James Spann and other local celebrities rappelling over the edge of the One Federal Place Building in downtown Birmingham. For the inaugural Laps for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Goes Over the Edge, participants will raise pledges for Laps for CF in exchange for the experience of rappelling the landmark building. Laps for CF will use funds raised to support all areas of need for CF treatment, research, care and improved quality of life. The deadline to sign up is Friday, Nov. 1. Confirmed “edgers” include “Speedy” Wilburn, Greg Burgess and Michael “Helmsey” Helms of the Rick & Bubba show and ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann. Laps for CF was created in 2003 by

Mountain Brook native Emily Schreiber. Schreiber was diagnosed with CF in January of 2003 at age nine. Although a surprise to her and her family, she confronted her condition with determination and resolve, putting together her first CF fundraising event, dubbed Laps for CF, only six weeks after her diagnosis. An avid swimmer for years, Emily’s idea for the fundraiser focused on individuals pledging dollar amounts for each lap she would swim. What began as a local swim fundraiser is now a successful CF nonprofit with a variety of local, state and national events and has raised more than $2.5 million for CF treatment and research. Contact Lauren Lambert at 871-9140 or lauren@lapsforcf.org for more.

State crafts show coming to Gardens Basketry, glass, metal, clay, gourds, wood, fiber, jewelry and printmaking will be on display Nov. 9-10 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for the 41st annual Alabama Designer Craftsmen’s (ADC) Annual Fine Crafts Show. More than 45 artists will participate this year. Past and present ADC members include Tena Payne, owner of Earthborn Studios, whose custom-made dishes are not only featured locally at Hot and Hot Fish Club but are also used in restaurants nationwide. ADC member Billy Ray Sims’ handcrafted baskets were recently acquired for the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. Other notable ADC members include potter Guadalupe Robinson and metalsmith Robert Taylor. This year’s show will offer several new

elements such as a special Preview Event held Friday, Nov. 8, from 6-9 p.m., which will feature RUSH Wines and offer complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Attendees can also participate in a Fine Art Raffle throughout the weekend, where more than 40 works of art will be given away during the drawing to be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. Also new this year is a Children’s Craft Classroom on Saturday and Sunday, where children can create Native American art projects. Artists will also provide demonstrations in their booths or show patrons educational materials. The event runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $3. For a full list of participating artists and more information, visit alabamadesignercraftsmen.com.

B4 A28 • November 2013

Village Living

New library concert series to feature Duquette Johnston

Suds & Sweets raises money for adoption

By HOLLEY WESLEY The Emmet O’Neal Library will kick off its Friday night free entertainment series Standing Room Only with a concert by Alabama-based singersongwriter Duquette Johnston. On Friday, Nov. 15, Johnston and his string quartet will perform on the library’s Community Meeting Room stage. Johnston is a southern musician who has paid his dues at the crossroads and beyond and has been featured by NPR and Paste Magazine. He balances the past, present and future of American roots music on the taut strings of his guitar. With razor-sharp playing and harmonies, Duquette transforms his audiences from

spectators to participants. His latest album is Rabbit Runs a Destiny. Up-and-coming local singersongwriter Rachel Hébert, whom library patrons will recognize from the Emmet O’Neal Children’s Department, will open the show. With roots in Louisiana, North Carolina and Alabama, Hébert’s songs grow up from the swamp, peat and clay of the Southeast. Her music invites you inside; the lyrics ask if you’ll stay and sit a spell. They’re the sort of front-porch songs you’ll come to consider old friends. The concert is free, and adult beverages will be served. The show is for ages 21 and up only. Doors open at 7 p.m., and

MBJH students ran a Suds & Sweets fundraiser for their neighbor, teacher and coach’s family’s adoption.

Duquette Johnston

the shows starts at 7:30 p.m. The Standing Room Only series will feature more events on select Friday nights every other month. For more, visit eolib.org.

A new tailgate tradition The Fourth Grade Boys Bible Clubs from Crestline, Mountain Brook Elementary, Cherokee Bend and Brookwood Forest all came together to tailgate before a Mountain Brook High School Homecoming Football Game this fall. Around 70 fourth-grade boys and their families attended the second annual event. The event was organized by Kelli Kelly, Leslie Brooks, Michelle Gilbert, Isabel Corley and Leslie Armstrong.

In October, Mountain Brook Junior High ninth-grade football players and cheerleaders raised $2,300 for John and Maryann Pledger’s adoption of two children from China through a Suds & Sweets event. The students set up a car wash and bake sale at Brookwood Baptist Church on what turned out to be a rainy day.

John teaches social studies at MBJH and coaches football. He and Maryann live in Brookwood Forest with children Lauren, Ayden, Anna Claire and Adelaide and will soon bring home two boys from China. To learn more about their family’s adoption, visit aydenalexander.blogspot.com.

Medal of Heroism awarded to local Boy Scout James Riley was recently the water. awarded the Boy Scouts of The youngest cousin, America Medal of Heroism Miles Whaley, age 4, had Award, which is given for fallen in the water fully heroism and skill in saving clothed on the wintry or attempting to save a life at day. He had fallen far and minimum risk to self. could not touch the bottom On Thanksgiving weekend or reach the dock. Without 2011, James and his family hesitation, James jumped traveled to their farm in Sterrett, into the water and swam out Ala. While fishing on the dock to Miles. James was not able James Riley with his granddad and seven to touch the bottom either, cousins, James heard a splash at the far end but he was able to hold his breath and of the dock. Before the adults realized what hold his cousin above water and walk was happening, James dropped his fish and him closer to the docks. The Heroism Award has been given ran down the docks. He came flying by, kicking off shoes as he went, his granddad out 6,077 times since 1923 and 155 noticed as he watched James beat him to since 2012.

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A29 B5

DAR chapter celebrates 100th anniversary

DAR members hold a flag flown over the U.S, Capitol, a framed copy of the Congressional Record and a congratulatory letter from U.S. Rep. Spencer Bacchus.

Members of the Old Elyton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) celebrated its 100th Anniversary with a luncheon held at the Birmingham Country Club. The event was held on Sept. 17, the 226th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. To commemorate the occasion, 45 members of Old Elyton Chapter gathered along with 30 members of John Parke Custis Chapter, with regents from other Alabama chapters including Lily of the Cahaba, General Sumter, Princess Sehoy and Cahawba. Special Guests included Alabama’s State DAR Regent, Connie Grund, who acted as the event’s master of ceremonies, and ASDAR officers including Marguerite Horton, Nancy Folk, Janeal Shannon, Verna Brennan and Annette Smith. The luncheon began with the singing of our National Anthem by Sandy Ash, accompanied on the piano by Charles Kennedy, both from the Cathedral Church of the Advent. “Dolley Madison” from Montevallo’s American Village performed in costume a monologue of historical accounts and fun facts of her life. Afterward, U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus’s assistant,

Christian Samford, presented Old Elyton with a flag that had been flown over our nation’s Capitol, a framed copy of the Congressional Record mentioning Old Elyton Chapter’s 100th anniversary, and a congratulatory letter. Mountain Brook’s mayor also sent a proclamation regarding the Constitution. The DAR school located in Grant, Ala., was named for one of Old Elyton’s founding members, Kate Duncan Smith. In honor of this and Old Elyton’s support, Peggy Johnson, KDS school Board of Trustees chair, and Heather Green, executive director, presented Old Elyton with a proclamation by the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, naming Sept. 17 as Old Elyton Chapter Day. The ladies dined on a menu from the recently released “Dining With The Washingtons” book of historic recipes, entertaining and hospitality from George and Martha Washington’s home of Mount Vernon. At the end of the gathering, “God of our Fathers,” a hymn written in 1876 to commemorate the 100th birthday of the Declaration of Independence, was sung by all with Charles Kennedy on the piano.

ZooGala roars with old Hollywood glamour

Tzena Gauldin, David Davis, Robin Sparks Davis, Cissy Jackson, Steve Jackson, Laura Clark, Jean Cecil and Dr. William R. Foster with Sarabi the serval at ZooGala.

In September, the Birmingham Zoo hosted its largest fundraising event of the year, ZooGala 2013, at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. All funds raised at ZooGala directly benefit the Birmingham Zoo’s operational efforts. Chairs of this year’s event were Laura Clark and Tzena Gauldin. More than 500 guests arrived in grand, old Hollywood style. The event showcased a 1936 Packard Sedan as music by the John Williams Quintet created the

perfect ambiance for the occasion. To kick off the evening, guests were greeted by Hollywood feather dancers and zoo animals such as a fennec fox, an American alligator, an African serval, a great horned owl and a barn owl. After a dinner catered by Iz Catering, guests danced to music by The American Flyers Show Band beneath canopy tents and old Hollywoodthemed décor.

Guild presents check to ballet The Ballet Guild of Birmingham presented its annual donation to the Alabama Ballet at its first meeting of the year in September. In attendance for the Alabama Ballet to accept the donation were Tracey Alvey, artistic director; Roger Van Fleteren, associate artistic director and resident

choreographer; and Megan Cottle, executive director. Lindsey Druhan, Ballet Guild president, and Ellen Faust, ball chair, presented the check. The donation represents the efforts, contributions and fundraising by the 20122013 Ballet Guild members.

A30 • November 2013 B6

Village Living

Annual United Way Food Drive at the Birmingham Zoo Bring a can Nov. 23-24, get half-price admission

Volunteers sort food at the United Way Community Food Bank warehouse. Photos courtesy of United Way Community Food Bank.

By KATIE TURPEN This month, Birmingham Zoo patrons can enjoy the unique exhibits and special events at the zoo while also fighting hunger throughout the hectic holiday season. During the weekend of Nov. 23-24, all visitors who bring a non-perishable food item to the zoo will receive half-price admission as part of the United Way Canned Food Drive. Donations will go toward the United Way Community Food Bank in Homewood. “This food drive comes at a good time,

because it’s getting colder and gas starts getting higher,” said Brooke McKinley, development and community engagement coordinator for the United Way Community Food Bank. “We are getting busier for the holidays.” The food bank secures and stores surplus food and distributes it to 220 partnering service agencies throughout 12 counties in Alabama. The bank distributes a total of 7.5 million pounds of food a year and will celebrate its 31st birthday this December. The bank’s special programs include the Weekenders

Backpack Program, which provides nutritional food items for schoolchildren, and the Mobile Pantry Program, which delivers food to families in rural areas who lack proper resources. “We are always looking for unique ways to reach people beyond the traditional food bank,” McKinley said. The Birmingham Zoo will feature several other unique exhibits, events and specials during November. On Nov. 10 and 11, all active and retired military personnel and their dependents will receive free admission.

Visitors’ opportunities include giraffe feeding, sea lion training, pelican feeding, a goat show in the barn and more. Additionally, the zoo’s new Trails of Africa exhibit features a herd of African male elephants, making the zoo a leader in the national effort of elephant conservation. Visitors can also enjoy a train ride around the animal habitats and a carousel ride. To learn more about the United Way Community Food Bank, visit feedingal.org. For more information on Birmingham Zoo events and exhibits, visit birminghamzoo.com.

Welcomes Personal Appearance Tues. Nov. 5 - Wed. Nov. 6 10-5pm

2726 Cahaba Road • 871-6747 • www.shopetcjewelry.com • Mon-Sat 10-5

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November 2013 • A31 B7

Get your greenery, support a good cause By LAUREN MORIARTY

Red Mountain Garden Club Greenery Sale Dec. 4, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens Pre-order at redmountaingardenclub.com The Red Mountain Garden Club will host its annual Greenery Sale on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The club first began the popular sale 31 years ago, and today it continues to offer garlands, badges and fresh greenery such as holly and hemlock to benefit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Birmingham Museum of Art.

Members construct the handmade kissing balls, mailbox toppers, table arrangements and more. Bows and ribbon to complete your home’s decorations are also available for sale. Garden club members as well as Pratt Brown of Pratt Brown Landscapes and Bob Newton of Landscape Services donate much of the greenery. To simplify the hectic holiday season, Red Mountain Garden Club

offers a pre-sale option on its website. A wide selection of boxwood, fir, monkey puzzle and cedar wreaths of varying sizes, both double and single sided, is available. Garland, Fraser fir and white pine crosses can also be pre-ordered. Pre-ordered items will be ready to take home the day of the sale. This year’s greenery sale chairmen are Alpha Goings and Cary Wahlheim.

Red Mountain Garden Club members Heather McWane, Alpha Goings, Cary Wahlheim, Patt Brown and Bob Newton donate greenery from their respective businesses to the sale.

PreSchool Partners Tree Sale Dec. 1, 4, 7 Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church Pre-order Oct. 20-Nov. 11 at preschool-partners.org Just before the start of December, Fraser fir trees from a farm in North Carolina will be cut and delivered to Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church for the PreSchool Partners Tree Sale. “We have returning customers every year to purchase our trees,” Allene Neighbors of PreSchool Partners said. “Many of our customers claim they are the prettiest trees they’ve ever had.” Prices for the firs begin at $85. Trees are available in three sizes: 7-8 foot, 8-9 foot, and 9-10 foot. Also of note last year were the cross wreaths for sale. Neighbors said they received a lot of positive feedback on

the special wreaths and will be selling them again this year. PreSchool Partners will also have traditional round wreaths for sale in two sizes as well as 25-foot strands of garland. All profits from the sale of Christmas trees and greenery go directly to PreSchool Partners, a nonprofit preschool preparing 3- and 4-yearold children for kindergarten in the Birmingham City School System. A portion of each sale is tax deductible. Buying your Christmas tree from PreSchool Partners means giving back, Neighbors said.

“Year after year, we have been selling trees that are absolutely gorgeous,” Neighbors said. “Our tree and greenery sale is a win-win for everyone. Get a beautiful tree, and help the children and families of PreSchool Partners.” All Christmas trees and greenery are presold Oct. 20-Nov. 11; you can order your tree size at preschoolpartners.org or by calling 951-5151 and select your specific tree on-site. Trees can be picked up in the back parking lot of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, 3736 Montrose Road. Pickup times are Dec. 1, noon-3 p.m., Dec. 4,

Proceeds from tree sales benefit the students at PreSchool Partners.

4-6 p.m. and Dec. 7, 9 a.m.-noon. PreSchool Partners volunteers will be on-site to help load trees, or delivery is offered for an additional $40. Deliveries will be made Dec. 1

from noon-5 p.m. For additional information, questions or special requests, contact Allene Neighbors at 936-3754 or allene.neighbors@gmail.com.

B8 A32 • November 2013

Village Living

The biggest screen yet

MBJH student’s film shown at Hollywood festival

By INTISAR SERAAJ-SABREE Christina Xing nudged her friend and told him to read the text message she received from her mother. “OMG [oh, my goodness], you’re going to Hollywood,” read Xing’s friend Eric Thompson. Xing, on her way to a marching band performance, had to contain her tears and excitement. Her film, Listen, was selected to be screened at the 2013 International Student Film Festival in Hollywood in October. Suzy Guo, Xing’s mother, reread the email three times before she texted her daughter the big news. Still in disbelief, she forwarded the email to her daughter’s film teacher, Shareon Flowers. With Xing’s name on the festival’s website, doubt disappeared that this ninth grade Mountain Brook Junior High School student’s film was chosen as one of only 74 films to be screened. Xing starred in and co-directed the film, alongside her 15-year-old friend Brendan Bennett. Their film crew was comprised of Xing’s friends from Nebraska, Colorado and California. Chosen from a mound of films made by students in elementary school to graduate school, Xing’s film uses dramatic music to complement the emotional story of two brothers struggling to make a better life for themselves. The film explores drug dealing, discovering one’s potential and seizing opportunities. Although the short film only took one week to film, it has already made an award-winning and emotional imprint on people during its first

A film by Christina Xing, a student at Mountain Brook Junior High, was shown at the 2013 International Student Film Festival in Hollywood in October. Photo by Intisar Seraaj-Sabree.

See for yourself

To watch Xing’s other films and videos, visit her YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/AlmostChristina?feature=watch. premiere during August 2013. Many of the audience members cried during the short film’s preview, including Guo. Guo attributes the film’s power to its soundtrack.

The main song used in the film came from the video game “To the Moon,” and its designer/composer Kan “Reives” Gao gladly gave Xing and her production crew permission

to use the song. In Listen, 14-year-old Xing plays a student who teaches the main character, Jake (played by Bennett), how to play “To the Moon” on piano.

But unlike Bennett, Xing has actually played piano for seven years, as well as clarinet for three years. Around the same time she tapped into her musical talent, which was sparked by admiration of her flute-playing sister, Xing developed a passion and flair for film. “I used to make quick shorts with my mom’s camera, and she’d get mad because she didn’t know where it was,” Xing said.” “I used to make Lego films and documentaries about my elementary school drama.” Guo did not recognize her daughter’s talent for film until she noticed her YouTube channel when Xing was in seventh grade. She could not believe she had not noticed the talent in her daughter, which started in the second grade when Xing would write stories and make old-school “moving pictures” with photographs. Now, Xing has about four short films she is especially proud of and more than 30 homemade videos on her YouTube channel. Xing said she was nervous about presenting Listen at the festival. “I’ve been practicing [my speech] with my friends over Skype, but I always end up cracking up,” Xing said. But no matter how much anxiety Xing builds up, her main goal remained to enjoy herself with her friends. They plan to adorn themselves in their fanciest attire as if they had just “walked out of a spy movie montage,” Xing said. And they would not mind winning, of course. “I hope we win, Xing said. “Fingers crossed.”

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A33 B9

Sam Lapidus Montclair Run honors a life cut short By SYDNEY CROMWELL Sam Lapidus was diagnosed with cancer at age nine, but he would never let anyone know it. For the six years he battled cancer, Sam defined his life by his friends, family and his love of working out, but never by his illness. “He had things to do and had life to live, and he lived life to the fullest,” said Billy Lapidus, Sam’s father. “[He] did not like to talk about it, did not want to be labeled a kid with cancer.” In 2003 Sam was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer that targets children. He underwent chemotherapy and surgery, which removed a mass in his abdomen and part of his rib cage, and went into remission for about a year. Over the course of six years, Sam’s cancer came back twice, and he faced nearly a dozen surgeries and multiple rounds of chemo and radiation. However, Billy said his son’s “tough spirit” supported him and his family through those distressing years. “He was so fierce about this and wouldn’t let it get in the way and refused to be different,” Billy said. “We would have fallen apart if Sam had, but he did anything but that.” Throughout his treatment at Children’s of Alabama, there was never a doubt that Sam’s cancer was secondary to his life plans. He would spend five days in chemo treatments, then head straight to the lake to go waterskiing. He continued to go to

Sam Lapidus Montclair Run Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 8:30 a.m. 10K 10 a.m. Fun Run bhamjcc.org Sam Lapidus claimed the Levite Jewish Community Center fitness center as his “home away from home.” The center’s annual Thanksgiving 10K and Fun Run is named in his memory. Photo courtesy of the Lapidus family.

summer camp, hang out with friends and spend time with his siblings, Noah and Clara. Most importantly, he always made sure his treatments were scheduled around his workouts at the Levite Jewish Community Center. Sam loved to work out and became a fixture in the LJCC fitness center. “He loved the JCC. He grew up there,” Billy said. “It was his home away from home.” Sadly, the cancer eventually became inoperable, and Sam passed away in November 2008, not long

before his 15th birthday. One of the friends he met through the fitness center, Bruce Sokol, wanted to honor Sam’s life, so he pushed the LJCC to rename its annual Montclair Run, which had been held for more than 30 years, in Sam’s memory. Now in its fifth year, the Sam Lapidus Montclair Run raises money for cancer research. Around 1,300 people participated in the Thanksgiving Day 10K and one-mile Fun Run in 2012, and similar crowds are expected this year. Five dollars from each runner’s

entry goes toward the LJCC fitness program and the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama. The race raised more than $5,000 last year to support cancer treatment and research. Billy and his wife and daughter will run in the Montclair race this year, along with many friends and family members. They appreciate the yearly outpouring of support and the opportunity to remember Sam’s life with the community that loved him. “It’s just an all-around amazing

thing for our family,” Billy said. “It really, truly is a day where we give thanks for Sam’s life. We’re not there to mourn his death.” The Lapidus family is still adjusting to life without Sam. They bake cakes for his birthday, and his little sister, who was 5 when he died, signs his name on Mother’s Day cards. Above all, though, they try to focus on all he accomplished, rather than what they lost. “It would be horrible if we were only to think of it in a sad way,” said Billy. “That would be such a disservice to his memory and his life.” This year’s race will be on Thursday, Nov. 28. The 10K will start at 8:30 a.m. and the Fun Run will begin at 10 a.m. Trophies will be given to the overall and top three male and female runners in each age category. There will also be drawings for free LJCC membership, 12 free turkeys from Piggly Wiggly, a Le Creuset Dutch oven and a pair of running shoes from the Trak Shak. Entrants can register through the mail or online at bhamjcc.org. The entry fees are $18 for the Fun Run, $30 for online 10K registration, $36 for mailed 10K registration and $36 for registration after Nov. 22. All 10K runners will receive a long-sleeve T-shirt, and Fun Run participants will receive a short-sleeve T-shirt as part of their entry fee. For more information, visit bhamjcc.org or call race organizer Dan Tourtellotte at 879-0411.

A34 • November 2013 B10

A veteran’s story

Lewis dressed in his Navy uniform during World War II.

By MADOLINE MARKHAM For John Lewis, 93, hearing blowing whistles and firing guns that signaled the Japanese surrender in Okinawa in 1945 is one of the few images of the war that remains in his mind — and most of them are memories he had never shared with his wife of 13 years, Marion, until he was interviewed for this article. Being stationed on a group of islands outside Okinawa was brutal, he said. The fear never dissipated that a Japanese

Village Living

John Lewis, right, and his wife, Marion, dress in game-day attire to attend as many Alabama athletic events as possible. Photo by Madoline Markham.

kamikaze (suicide) plane could dive into an American ship at any moment. But the lieutenant was more afraid of watching 40-foot walls of water crash onto his ship when typhoons struck on the Pacific Ocean. One man washed overboard during one of the storms, he recalled. After another fellow soldier went on shore to Okinawa to find souvenirs, a search-andrescue team was sent to find him. He did not come back alive. When the Allies’ invasion started in Okinawa, he watched from afar as the whole

city glowed with gunfire. Before going to the Pacific, Lewis was in the Caribbean, where he patrolled the air looking for German submarines in the waters around islands like Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Dominican Republic and Aruba. All the while, what sticks out to him now is how young everyone was in World War II. “An old man was 28 or 29,” he said. These days, life is a little different for Lewis. He and Marion now yell the battle cry “Roll Tide” and attend all home and championship games for The University of Alabama’s

SPECIAL PROMOTION

football team, as well as any other sporting events possible. After all, he had received a degree in chemical engineering from the University before enlisting in 1942 at age 22. This month Lewis will attend the fourthgrade Veterans Program at Mountain Brook Elementary with his step-granddaughter, Payton Flynn, one of Marion’s 11 greatgrandchildren who live in Mountain Brook. After that, the couple is hoping to pack Marion’s “Lucky Touchdown Peanut Brittle” and head to Pasadena for their fourth national championship game.

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A35 B11

Dash through the Botanical Gardens Dirt Dash

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Nov. 16 8 a.m. 5K Fun Run 9 a.m. 1-mile Family Walk Visit bbgardens.org/funrun.php

The Dirt Dash offers runners and walkers the opportunity to blaze through the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

By LAUREN MORIARTY Rain or shine, runners will weave their way through the trails of Alabama’s largest living museum at the Dirt Dash on Nov. 16. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ 67.5 acres boasts miles of shaded paths, making it an ideal location for a fall run. Along the way, runners will pass more than 12,000 varieties of plants that line the trails as well as the largest public horticulture library in the U.S. and multiple specialized gardens, such as the

Southern Living garden. Proceeds from the race go to a good cause, explained Gardens Public Relations Coordinator Blake Ells. “Funds raised help The Gardens achieve its educational mission with programs like Discovery Field Trips, which has provided free, curriculumbased science education to Birmingham City Schools for a decade,” he said. Little ones can participate, too. Birmingham Botanical Gardens invites children 7-17 to join the Family Walk.

After the run, an awards ceremony will take place around 9:30 a.m. in the Gardens’ parking lot. Be sure to register ahead, as day-of registration is not available. Registration for the 5K is $25 before Nov. 15. The 1-Mile Family Walk is $20 for adults and $15 for ages 7-17. Kids 6 and under are free. Pickup will be at Trak Shak in Homewood on Friday, Nov. 15 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Weather permitting, there will be a tent outside.

B12 A36 • November 2013

Village Living

A new kind of Market Junior League rebrands annual shopping event Shoppers can kick off the holiday shopping season the weekend before Thanksgiving with a new take on a long-standing tradition. The Junior League of Birmingham (JLB) has christened a new name and logo for its annual holiday market — Market Noel. The event will welcome more than 100 local and national merchants to set up shop in the Cahaba Grand Conference Center as familiar strains of Christmas music play. “The rebrand has attracted a lot of new vendors,” said Mary Evans, Market Noel chair. “Our hope is to keep old favorites while bringing in fresh, new merchandise from around the country.” Joining Market Noel’s camp of new vendors is Merry Cheese Crisps, a Birmingham-based company selling a new spin on a Southern favorite, the cheese straw. Meredith McMillan, the company’s founder and a Mountain Brook resident, is excited to be sharing her crisps at Market Noel. “The crisps are a variation on an old family recipe that I made growing up with my mom,” McMillan said. “The flavor is sharp but not too spicy. Kids love them too.” All proceeds from Market Noel will support the 34 community projects of JLB, including Girls Inc.’s Mother-Daughter Connection and Teen Leadership programs, which prepare girls of diverse backgrounds to become productive members of society by providing a safe place to learn and grow with the freedom to take risks and try new things without fear of criticism. The Teen Leadership Program offers fun, educational and social opportunities for high school girls through classes, workshops, field trips and presentations by professional women in the community. Topics for the events have included Mean Girls, a Healthy Me workshop, Teen Dating Violence and College/Career

Market Noel Cahaba Grand Conference Center Nov. 21-22, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 23, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $12 general admission marketnoel.net

(above) Lora Retherford, co-chair, and Mary Evans, chair, complete final plans for the Junior League of Birmingham’s 2013 Market Noel.

(right) Mountain Brook resident and country music star Sara Evans will perform at Market Morning as a part of the Market Noel event.

Preparation. Returning to the Cahaba Grand Conference Center for the fifth consecutive year, the festivities begin Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. with a merry Sneak Peek party with

hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer tastings, and the chance to win a one-carat diamond with purchase of a glass of champagne. General admission shopping runs Nov. 21-23 from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and

9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. Highlights of the week include Market Morning, featuring country music singer Sara Evans, and a book signing by Homewood’s own Father Goose, Charles Ghigna, and his wife, Debra. Ghigna, a nationally renowned poet and author, has recently co-written a children’s book with his wife, titled Christmas is Coming! Both authors will be on hand to sign copies of their latest book. On Friday, John Croyle of the Big Oak Ranch will be signing copies of his book, The TwoMinute Drill to Manhood: A Proven Game Plan for Raising Sons, a holiday gift for any father on your list. On Saturday, families can enjoy free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Visit marketnoel.net to purchase tickets and to review a complete listing of participating merchants and event details. Tickets are also available at the door, and all special event tickets include admission for shopping. You can also find Market Noel at facebook. com/MarketNoel, JLBirmingham Pinterest or #jlbmarketnoel on Twitter. -Submitted by the Junior League of Birmingham

Each rug has a story. And we’ve got a lot of new stories to share. We’ve just returned from a buying excursion to Turkey and Morocco with over 400 oneof-a-kind antique, vintage and modern heirloom rugs, each with a once-in-alifetime history behind it. Come visit our new larger showroom, and shop our new inventory today.

kingshouseorientalrugs.com - (205) 244-1933 Shop: 2807 2nd Ave S, Birmingham Al - Hours: M-F: 10-4 / S: 10-3

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A37 B13

Wheeling into the future By MADOLINE MARKHAM A small black wheelchair sits in an office at the corner of Cahaba Road and Shades Creek Parkway. It belonged to Lloyd Cooper’s father and was the inspiration for the new kind of chair on wheels that surround it in the work space. Cooper, an industrial designer by trade, had taken note when his father, Belton’s, health was declining at age 87. A World War II veteran and Naval architect who designed ships, Belton had long stressed to his son the importance of understanding problems in order to design the best solutions for them. Years later, he had broken both hips and was confined to that black chair. “I had watched my dad sit in his wheelchair for three or four hours a day to watch TV because it was hard for him to stand up or move onto other furniture,” said Cooper, a Crestline resident. “And I had seen the stress it put on a caretaker like my mom.” And so, charged by Dr. Will Ferniany, CEO of the UAB Health System, Cooper set out to create a solution with his company, PUSH Product Design. What evolved from research with various health care professionals was a new kind of chair, one that enables the patient to easily get in and out of the seat and have a much more comfortable experience while sitting. In addition, it reduces the strain of a nurse or caretaker who assists the patient in getting in and out of the chair. The Movi features a built-in lift that positions the patient with his or her body weight over the legs, requiring 20-30 percent less effort to get out of the chair than a traditional wheelchair. Also unique are footrests that rest flesh to the ground instead of rests that require being moved in and out upon sitting in the chair. The chair can recline at any time to a position that is most comfortable to whoever is sitting in it. Cooper finds the chair so comfortable that

(left) Scott Kubisyn, VP of sales for Movi, and Lloyd Cooper, VP of design, work from their office near the Jemison Trail. Photo by Madoline Markham.

he will often sit in it to work on his laptop for hours at a time in the Movi office. A year ago, the first set of Movi chairs were delivered to UAB. UAB currently has 10 chairs and has ordered 100 more. The VA Medical Center recently ordered 20, and orders are pending with several other hospitals. The chairs have made their way into homes as well. John Higgins, a Mountain Brook resident and friend of Cooper’s since kindergarten at Highlands Day School, immediately thought of what Cooper had told him about Movi when his father, David, was undergoing radiation for cancer and in need of a wheelchair. In May, Higgins picked up the phone, and a few days later, his father was in possession of a Movi. “It made such a huge difference in what my father experienced at home,” Higgins said. “He was able to get around the house and get up out of the chair to go to the restroom and go to bed. He wanted to stay in the chair because he was comfortable and even reclined and spent the whole night in it. It truly was a game changer for my father and made his quality of life so

Designer Lloyd Cooper’s mother, Rebecca, a longtime Mountain Brook resident, demonstrates how the Movi chair works. Photo courtesy of Movi.

much better for the last month of his life.” Higgins noted that he even brought the Movi to his dad’s appointments at Brookwood Medical Center because it was so much easier for his father to use than the hospital’s wheelchair. Now Movi, a spin-off company from PUSH, is working on a second-generation model designed more specifically for home use. Building on his past experience designing office furniture and automobile seating, Cooper wants the chair to look more like a classic piece of modernist furniture than institutional black and chrome and have the comfort you find in a nice seat in a car. Plus, it will come in customizable fabrics to match a customer’s taste and/or their living room décor. Above aesthetics, he wants it to be a

comfortable place for persons with conditions like Parkinson’s, cancer or polio to sit for hours at a time. It will feature a headrest, larger padded arms, padded leg lift, magazine rack and a side table. The current hospital model has a price tag of $3,995, and the new version will likely cost more with bells and whistles. The new generation, named “Stingray” while in development, will make its debut at the Health Care Design Conference in Orlando in November. Cooper’s dad didn’t live to see its debut or to try out the first model, but he did get to see his son design countless products based on the problems he saw. And he got to ride the high cycle at the McWane Center that his son designed.

B14 A38 • November 2013

Village Living

Sports ‘Work hard, run fast, be fearless’

MBJH volleyball wins Metro

Coach McMillan believes 2013-2014 team, fans in store for another explosive season BY BRIAN WALLACE

Patrick Keim, a senior at Mountain Brook High School, helped lead the Spartans in winning the 2013 State Championship.

When the 2013-2014 high school basketball season tips off during the first week of November, area teams will have a similar vision of winning it all and holding up the state trophy. They will imagine training, team chemistry and maybe even a little luck could make that a reality. Seven short months ago, it was a reality for Mountain Brook High School boy’s basketball team and coach Bucky McMillan. Before a huge crowd at the BJCC, they defeated Sparkman 74-53 to win the 6A Boys Basketball state championship. But even with that vision fresh in their minds, before the trophies are handed out or the nets cut down again, there’s a lot of work to be done. A tough schedule and some new faces is just the beginning. “Our goal isn’t to repeat,” sixth year coach McMillan said. “Our goal is to work harder and smarter than our opponent and to be fearless.” And they might need to. Mountain Brook’s schedule will pit the team against the best in the state long before the year-end tournament. “I’m excited about our schedule and several tournaments we play during the year, including the week of Thanksgiving at The University of Alabama,” McMillan said. “When you play a high level of opponent, everyone competing will learn very quickly they can’t get away with mistakes, and they will gain invaluable experience by playing those teams.” A lot of key players from last season’s championship team have graduated, but for

the remaining players that watched them win it all, they already have some of that valuable experience gained by just being a part of a winning process. Returning players include a trio of great shooting guards in Ben Shearer, Patrick Keim and Tawarran Grant, younger brother of Malek Grant. They will also look for great performances from 6-foot-7 center Alex Peters and forward Jack Kline. “Our defense should also still be great,” McMillan said. “I understand that for the JV players moving up to varsity is like going from high school to college. But even with growing pains, we plan to push teams defensively.” McMillan knows that defense was largely responsible for their 30-6 record last season. But just as important was how they pushed teams offensively. McMillan said fans can expect the same up-tempo, explosive running the team had last season and a lot of 3-point shooting. McMillan understands there will be a learning curve, but believes his players will grow with each game and looks forward to the faithful fan base encouraging that growth. Whether expectations are high or low from those that cheer them on, McMillan said he is excited about molding his players into champions. “It’s like building a house,” McMillan said. “They have the foundation of winning. Now, they have to work hard, run fast, be fearless and get better game by game.” Mountain Brook’s first game for the 2013-2104 season is Nov. 14 against Ramsay High School at home. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Caroline Decker and Ellen Dulin were named Metro players of the year. Photo by Elizabeth Farrar.

By ELIZABETH FARRAR Mountain Brook Junior High School eighth grade volleyball team earned the Metro championship with a dominating win over Oak Mountain in the title game. The team’s Metro record was 11-0 with an overall record of 28-1. This is the fourth consecutive year the eighth grade has won the Metro championship and the fifth championship season in the last six years. The MBJH seventh grade volleyball team had a strong season, finishing first in the Bronze Division of the Oak Mountain Invitational and second in the Homewood Round Robin Tournament. Caroline Decker and Ellen Dulin were named All-Metro Players of the Year, and Ellen Dulin was named All-Tournament player at the Metro tournament.

VillageLivingOnline.com

B15 November 2013 • A39

Soccer player recruited for top team in nation

MBHS Varsity Football Recap Photos by Image Arts.

Date 8/30 9/06 9/12 9/20 9/27 10/04 10/11 10/18 10/25 11/01

Opponent Tuscaloosa County Shades Valley* Gardendale* Woodlawn* Buckhorn Carver* Hewitt-Trussville* Huffman* Vestavia Hills* Parker

Location L L L W W W W W Home Home

*Region game

Carter Emack plays soccer for Birmingham United. Photo courtesy of April Carlson Photography.

By MADOLINE MARKHAM Eighth grader Carter Emack recently travelled to California to play for the U14 U.S. National Team camp. The US Soccer Federation recruits the best 32 soccer players in the country in their age group for this camp. “It’s by no mistake that Carter is one of the best players because he puts a ton of time into working on his own outside of practice,” Birmingham United Executive Director Andrew Bonner said. “He’s a very mature young man who is skilled in the game. He can do things with the ball can that only kids two or three years older than him can usually do.” Carter is the son of Jim and Kaye Emack.

NOVEMBER 21 - 23, 2013

CAHABA GRAND CONFERENCE CENTER U.S. HWY. 280 FREE PARKING

Thursday, November 21 Friday, November 22 Saturday, November 23 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

. Special Events . 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sneak Peek Party

Wednesday, November 20 7 - 10 p.m.

Market Morning with Sara Evans Thursday, November 21 9:30 - 11 a.m.

Snaps with Santa

Saturday, November 23 9 - 11 a.m.

Tickets

$12 General Admission $24 Market Morning $10 Group Ticket

$36 Sneak Peek Party $12 Snaps with Santa $24 Three Day Must-Have Pass

Changing Spaces Moving EBSCO Media Good People Brewing Company Millie Ray’s Rolls Leon Loard Rare Transportation

Time 13-6 45-28 14-9 51-6 15-14 35-7 34-13 31-7 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Overall: 5-3 Region: 4-2 Home: 3-1 Away: 2-2 Win Percentage: .635 PF: 209 PA: 119 Win Streak: 5 weeks *Stats from after Oct. 18 game against Huffman. As of printing, the Spartans were set to play Vestavia Hills on Oct. 25 and Parker on Nov. 1.

A40 â&#x20AC;˘ November 2013 B16

Village Living

Homecoming festivities 2013 Mountain Brook vs. Carver

Members of the Mountain Brook Flag Corps.

Croquet Club float.

Senior homecoming attendants Caroline Bramlett and Lucy Neal pictured with Homecoming Queen Mae Rose Tyson.

Members of the football team riding on their float in the Homecoming Parade.

French Club float.

Cheerleaders Frances Conner, Lucy Long, Ashley Niketas, Kaylyn Greene, Elizabeth Hamn, Meme Marshall, Meredith Stringfellow, Mary Claire Ritchey and Catherine Fruin. Photos courtesy of Image Arts.

The MBHS Band drum major and Dorians lead off the parade through Crestline Village.

B17 November 2013 • A41

VillageLivingOnline.com

Tide meets Plains In honor of the Iron Bowl this month, Village Living talked with an avid fan on each side of the Great Divide

Alabama Fan: Katherine Allen Bowl. Therefore, I just had to stay for two more years there in graduate school, right? Finally, in 1990, Alabama beat Auburn! It was insanely awesome.

Mike and Katherine Allen at the Rose Bowl. Photo courtesy of Katherine Allen.

How did you become a fan? I believe it is a genetic thing for me. My maiden name is McDavid, and our family tree is primarily crimson. I’m in the fifth generation of McDavids to attend The University of Alabama. Before that, my great-great-great-great- grandfather, Robert Miller Patton, was the governor of Alabama. He was on the Board of Trustees at The University of Alabama and led the effort to rebuild the university after it was burned by the Union Army during the Civil War. What is your favorite Iron Bowl memory? For each of the four years I was an undergraduate at Alabama, we lost the Iron

Do you have any game day superstitions? If we watch at home, the sofas and chairs are set in a precise “game day” shape. The same core group of friends is invited. We do not allow any Auburn fans. It’s an unspoken rule, but all our friends tacitly agree. If the game isn’t going well, we all have to change seats. Once, we even sent a guest home to change his shoes to the ones he usually wears. I have a lucky shaker from Pasadena, too! I think the biggest addition to my uber-fan status is my Championship Tree. No, it’s not a Christmas tree. It’s a Championship Tree. It’s white with red lights and covered with all Alabama ribbons and ornaments. I’ve had it up during football season for the last two years, so I think it’s working. What makes you an over-the-top fan? I think when I bought removable Crimson Tide toilet decals for our most recent National Championship party, then I knew I was officially over-the-top. But, truly, that was a joke. Where do you like to visit while you are in Tuscaloosa? Beyond the stadium, the Locker Room has nice higher-end Alabama attire, and no trip to campus would be the same if we didn’t drop by my sorority house to see if the famous cheese potatoes are on the menu.

The Carr children; Jordan, Grace, Evans, Ann-Harrison and Sara tailgate before an Auburn game. Photo courtesy of Juli Carr.

Auburn Fan: Juli Carr When did you know you were a fan for life? My husband and I met while in college at Auburn. He played football, and I was a cheerleader. We met on an airplane coming home from an away game. What is your game day ritual? We have two sons at Auburn now. Our oldest is a cheerleader there, so our game day consists of tailgating with the squad then participating in Tiger Walk and Spirit March. Tell us about your game day gear. My husband, myself and our three daughters always have something with Auburn colors and maybe a shaker stuck in my girls’ ponytails. What makes you an over-the-top fan? I really try to recruit everybody to go to Auburn. I have several UA alums who I consider dear friends whose kids I started taking to Auburn games from elementary school age on, and now those kids are at Auburn. Got to love that! They felt the Auburn spirit too and were sold. I won’t name names, but they know who they are.

I think there is no other place like Auburn! Besides a great education, it’s comfortable, friendly and welcoming. What do you love about football Saturdays? I have to see the eagle fly. The entire pregame has such tradition and patriotism that I always have chills. What are some of your favorite places in Auburn? We love to eat at the BBQ House and get lemonade from Toomer’s. I love shopping with my three girls. We hit every shop on College Street and love it all. I still love cruising by Toomer’s Corner. The trees may be gone, but the memories of my kids climbing on those walls and throwing toilet paper are so vivid. What does Auburn mean to you? It means warm, wonderful memories and traditions passed to my children with them saying Auburn is like home to them too. The craziest thing my oldest kids did was tell my youngest that if they ever said “RTR” that Santa wouldn’t come to our house.

B18 A42 • November 2013

Village Living

Spartans win tournament

Mahesh Changlani, MD • Alan S. Gertler, MD • Jody Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner

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Front Row: Trent Wright, Quinn Denson, Graham Hodges, Logan Blomeyer, Carter Brooks, Jackson Beatty. Second Row: Sam Hunt, John Colvin, Thomas Sargent, Carter Kelley, Ford Moffatt, Charlie Berryman. Back Row: Coaches Jim Beatty, Seth Sargent, Brad Moffatt, Trent Wright, Michael Brooks. Photo courtesy of Jim Beatty.

The 8-year-old Mountain Brook Spartans defeated Shades Mountain by a score of 16-9 to win Pell City’s Baseball on the Lake Tournament

this summer. There were a total of 20 teams that competed from the Metro Area.

VillageLivingOnline.com

November 2013 • A43 B19

Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

A silver linings mindset Every morning when we wake up, we have a choice. We can choose to be grateful for what’s right in our life or grumpy for what’s wrong. Nobody is born grateful. We learn gratitude by practicing it. This is good news because it means gratitude is within everyone’s reach. In any and all circumstances it works. Even if we’re skeptical or pessimistic by nature, there’s hope. Even if we’ve been beaten down by life, there’s hope. Learning to be grateful is a matter of noticing what’s already there. It’s getting over ourselves and what we think life owes us. It’s comparing ourselves to those who have less — not more — and would kill to be in our shoes. It’s training our mind to see the good in every situation. By applying a new filter, we develop a silver linings mindset that can turn any negative into a positive. Sound impractical? Let’s put the idea to use by thinking of everyday irritations that dampen our mood. Let’s take what would normally get under our skin and let it roll off our shoulders using gratitude. Whatever is bothering us, whatever we’re taking for granted, someone else is praying to have our problem. Keeping this reality in mind can change our outlook completely. Consider for a moment the following:

The noise and chaos that awakes us each morning because our kids are wild bucks — an infertile couple prays to wake up to that music. The leak in our roof that comes back with every hard rain — a family prays for a home of their own, leaky roof and all. The check-out line at the grocery that tortures us because we’re impatient — someone prays for money to buy food and a reason to wait in line. The date night with our spouse we’re tempted to call off because we’re tired — someone prays for a spouse who loves them and wants to spend time together. The toddler who drives us mad because they never quit running — a mother prays her child will walk one day and enjoy life like other kids. The job we dread going to day in and day out — someone prays to find a job today because the stress of employment is far better than the stress of unemployment. The child who constantly calls for us and asks for help — someone is praying their child in college will call them because it’s been five days since they’ve heard their beloved voice. The car ride home from the beach that should take five hours but instead takes seven — a father prays for the means to take his family on vacation, even if it

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BEST OF MOUNTAIN BROOK Village Living 2013 Best Mexican Food

means sitting in traffic. The bad hair day that makes us want to stay home — a woman who’s lost her hair to chemo prays her hair will grow back, even if it’s wild. Life is stressful. Life is hard. Life annoys the heck out of us sometimes. But when we focus on silver linings, little blessings inside every situation, we realize how blessed we are. Abundantly, richly blessed. Every day we have a choice: the choice to dwell on what’s wrong or give thanks for what’s right. By making thanks our habit, our instinctive response to both joy and frustration, a silver linings mindset kicks in. Once we have that, life appears better at every turn. Whatever we’re taking for granted, someone else is praying for. The only shortcut to happiness is being happy where we are. Gratitude is free and available to all. Once we catch on to the wonder of that, we can give a heartfelt thanks that something so easy can make such a difference. 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 karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@karikampakis.com.

B20 A44 • November 2013

ARRELIA from pg B1

day. Callins would sew her bridesmaids’ dresses and her children’s clothes, but through the years she became a mother and now grandmother, she never wanted a job that wasn’t cashier. “I have never had a bad day at work,” she said. “I have never been stressed out at work. Isn’t that something?” After 15 years working for the Crestline Winn-Dixie, the store closed, and she moved to another location — one she said was nothing like Crestline. She eventually made her way “home” as a cashier at the Crestline Pig in 1988. William E. Bailey, who ran the store at the time, later offered Callins a new position scanning for the store. The new job would offer a pay increase but entail working in an office and not seeing customers, so she turned it down. “I was happy being a cashier doing what I love to do best, and that is to talk,” she said. After Callins had a hip replacement and two knee replacements in recent years, Crestline came knocking on her door with cards, flowers and meals. She still has a large stack of the cards and will go back and read them, just as she does her collection of customers’ birth announcements and Christmas cards from over the years. These days people ask her how she stands on her feet all day after her surgeries. She said it might bother her when she gets home, but when she’s at work it’s not on her mind at all. “Being here is like being at home,” she said. “I get so involved laughing and talking that I forget about everything else.” And now she said she hopes working as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly in Homewood after the Crestline store closes will eventually feel like home, too.

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Party at the Pig The management and staff of Crestline Piggly Wiggly are hosting a Barbecue and Party at the Pig Sunday, Nov. 3 from noon-3 p.m. All are invited to come out and celebrate the Crestline community and the Pig “family,” as the store will close its doors on Nov. 2. Management and staff of the Piggly Wiggly will be barbecuing, and everyone is invited to bring a dish to share. Event organizers also note that the “Piggy Bank” account at Regions Bank to equally benefit all Crestline Pig employees is open for contributions through Oct. 31.

Amy Stamper’s third-grade class at Crestline Elementary created posters encouraging everyone to join together for this community-wide Party at the Pig. Photo courtesy of Kathryn Corey.

Pig employees to work at other locations following the store’s closure on Nov. 2

Nakia Alexander, Jean Linderman, Thomas Edwards and Adrian Allen are among the employees who will work at the Piggly Wiggly at River Run.

Crestline Piggly Wiggly employees Arrelia Callins, Dianne Lindsey, Glenn Lee and Samuel Shields are among the Crestline employees who will work at the Homewood store starting this month.

TOYS T O • DOLLS • PARTIES

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Calendar

B21 November 2013 • A45

Mountain Brook Events Oct. 20-Nov. 11: Preorder Period for Preschool Partners Tree Sale. Fraser firs start at 7 feet and $85. They will be delivered to St. Luke’s or individual homes Dec. 1, 4 and 7. Visit preschoolpartners.org. Nov. 1: Mountain Brook vs. Parker/Senior Night. 7 p.m. MBHS Stadium. Nov. 1-2: TumTum Tree Foundation Wine Auction Weekend. Friday 6-8 p.m., Saturday 6-9 p.m. Birmingham Country Club. Wine tasting, silent auction and private wine maker dinners. Benefits local charities. Call 563-0832. Nov. 3: Crestline Piggly Wiggly Barbecue and Party. Noon-3 p.m. Piggly Wiggly in Crestline Village. Bring a dish to share. Nov. 3: Sursum Corda: Dark Night of the Soul. 7:30 p.m. Canterbury United Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Road. Birmingham’s premier choral ensemble presents a reflective program of choral works, including J.S. Bach’s “Komm, Jesu, Komm,” “How Long, O Lord” by Jacob Avshalomov and “Dark Night of the Soul” by Ola Gjeilo. Call 226-4957. Nov. 3: Family Cookbook Demonstration with Author Tina Wasserman. 3 p.m. Levite Jewish Community Center. Tina

Wasserman’s latest book, “Entree to Judaism for Families: Kitchen Conversations between Adults and Children” is a great way to spend a meaningful, creative afternoon with your kids. Free. Email Samantha Dubrinsky at samd@bjf.org.

fun run, 9 a.m. 1-mile family walk. Supports the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Visit bbgardens.org.

Nov. 7: MBHS Band Concert. 7 p.m. MBHS Fine Arts Center.

Nov. 21: Crestline Village Holiday Open House. 4 p.m. Crestline Village. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com/ crestline-village.php.

Nov. 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17: Theatre LJCC Presents “Funny Girl.” 7:30 p.m. all dates except Nov. 10 & 17, when it is scheduled for 2 p.m. Levite Jewish Community Center. This musical is the story of Fanny Brice, one of the most celebrated entertainers of her time. $15 adults, $12 students. Contact Mindy Cohen at mcohen@bhamjcc.org or 8790411 ext. 233. Nov. 9-10: Alabama Designer Craftsmen’s Annual Fine Crafts Show. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Visit alabamadesignercraftsmen. com. Nov. 14: Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: Real Estate Panel. 11:30 a.m. Park Lane. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com. Nov. 14: MBHS Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Ramsay. 7:30 p.m. Spartan Arena. Nov. 16: Birmingham Botanical Gardens Dirt Dash. 8 a.m. 5K

Nov. 19: MBHS Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Northridge. 7:30 p.m. Spartan Arena.

Nov. 21: Finish the Fight Iron Bowl Tailgate Party. 6:30 p.m. Ted’s Garage, 2309 5th Avenue South. Benefits the Robert E. Reed Foundation, which supports gastrointestinal cancer research. $85. Visit reedgifoundation.com/ events.

Robert E. Reed Foundation Tailgate Party organizers

Nov. 23-24: United Way Canned Food Drive. Birmingham Zoo. Bring a non-perishable food item to receive half-price admission. Visit birminghamzoo.com. Nov. 28: Sam Lapidus Montclair Run. 8:30 a.m. 10K, 10 a.m. Fun Run. Levite Jewish Community Center. Visit bhamjcc.org. Nov. 30: Hanukkah Celebration: Festival of Lights. Levite Jewish Community Center. The festival includes a Latke Throw Down among several Jewish Birmingham organizations, The World Series of Dreidel and a Hanukkah play performed by Cohn ECLC Pre-K class.

MBHS basketball season kicks off this month.

B22 A46 • November 2013

Village Living

Calendar

Save the Date

Emmet O’Neal Library Call 445-1121 or visit eolib.org for more.

Dec. 3: Thirty-Sixth Annual Birmingham Boys Choir Christmas Concert. 7:30 p.m. Canterbury United Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Road. The choir will be joined by choir alumni and fathers of current choristers. Free. Visit birminghamboyschoir.com or call 767-9219. Dec. 4: Red Mountain Garden Club’s Greenery Sale. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Proceeds benefit the Botanical Gardens and the Birmingham Museum of Art garden. Visit

redmountaingardenclub.com. Dec. 4: English Village Open House. English Village. Dec. 5: Mountain Brook Village Open House. Mountain Brook Village. Dec. 8: Holiday Parade. 3 p.m. Mountain Brook Village. Visit welcometomountainbrook.com. Dec. 14-15: Independent Presbyterian Church’s Holiday House Tour. Saturday 11-5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m. Tickets are available at the church (933-1830) and ipc-usa.org.

Adults

Wednesdays: Brown Bag Lunch Series. Noon doors open, 12:30 p.m. program.

No programs will be held the week of Thanksgiving.

Nov. 10-11: Library closed for Veterans Day. Nov. 11: Great Books. 6:30 p.m. Book group discussing a selected short story “Tom Outland’s Story” by Willa Cather. Nov. 12: The Bookies. 10 a.m. Book group discussing “The Dinner” by Herman Koch. Nov. 15: Standing Room Only Presents Duquette Johnston in Concert. 7 p.m. doors open, 7:30 p.m. show. Rachel Hebert opens. Ages 21 and up only. Nov. 16: Knit & Knibble. 2-3:30 p.m. All crafts and skill levels welcome. Nov. 19: Documentaries After Dark. 6:30 p.m. Film about the influence of The Lord of the Rings on popular culture. Nov. 21: Let’s Talk Money. 6:30 p.m. Financial education program. Light dinner served. Nov. 26: Genre Reading Group. 6:30 p.m. Discussing Caldecott Award-winning books. Nov. 28-29: Library closed for Thanksgiving.

Teens

Mountain Brook Christmas Parade

Children

Nov. 1: Game On Video Game Tournament. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Nov. 6: TAB. 5-6 p.m. The monthly meeting of the library’s Teen Advisory Board. Nov. 8: Cookie Making. 4-6 p.m. Nov. 16: International Gaming Day. Noon-5 p.m.

Mondays *Toddler Tales Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays Together Time Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Library Out Loud Story Time. 3:30 p.m. Evenings @ EOL. 6 p.m. Wednesdays *Mother Goose Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Thursdays *Patty Cake Story Time. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. SNaP. 3:30 p.m. Saturdays Family Story Time with Mr. Mac. 10:30 a.m.

Special Events

Nov. 5: Evenings @ EOL: PJ Storytime. 6 p.m. Nov. 12: Family Night: Funikijam. 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19: Evenings @ EOL: Thanksgiving Movie and Popcorn. 6 p.m. Nov. 20: After-School Special: Birmingham Children’s Theatre City Mouse Country Mouse. 6 p.m. Nov. 21: *Bookmania: House of Hades. 6 p.m. *Space is limited; please call 879-0497 or visit eolib.org to register.

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Calendar

November 2013 • A47 B23

Area Events Nov. 1: James Farmer Book Signing. 11 a.m. Gus Mayer, 214 Summit Blvd. Farmer will sign his best-selling books A Time to Plant, Sip & Savor, Porch Living, Wreaths for All Seasons and A Time to Cook. Call 910-6393. Nov. 2: Drug Prevention Walk. 8 a.m. Jefferson State Community CollegeShelby/Hoover Campus. Walk to prevent drug abuse against teens. Admission free with donation of a canned food item, school supply item or personal hygiene item. Call 874-8498. Nov. 2-3: Moss Rock Festival. Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Preserve, 616 Preserve Parkway. Explore nature, eco ideas, art + design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its eighth year. Call 595-6306. Nov. 3: Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles. 7 p.m. BJCC Concert Hal. Call 800-7453000. Nov. 2-3: St. Nicholas Russian/Slavic Food Festival. Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m. St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Park and Pastor Streets, Brookside. Call 285-9648. Nov. 5: Christy Jordan Book Signing. 7 p.m. Books-A-Million, Colonial Brookwood Village. Jordan, blogger at southernplate. com, will speak and sign copies of her new book, Come Home to Supper. Nov. 5: Ring of Fire - The Music of Johnny Cash. 7:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. Visit samford.edu/

wrightcenter. Nov. 6-10: Disney on Ice: Princesses & Heroes. BJCC. Call 1-800-745-3000. Nov. 6-10: Christmas Village Festival. BJCC. Arts, crafts and gifts festival with more than 700 booths. $10 adults, $4 children 6-12. Visit christmasvillagefestival.com. Nov. 7: Judith March Taste of Teal. 6 p.m. Vestavia Country Club. Sit-down dinner, wine tasting, silent auction and live auction benefits the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation. $50. Visit thinkoflaura.com. Nov. 7: UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center Presents: Anoushka Shankar. 7 p.m. Alys Stephen Center, 1200 Tenth Avenue South. Call 975-2787. Nov. 7: Reel Paddling Film Festival. 6-9 p.m. Avondale Brewing Company. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Rapid Media’s 8th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival showcases the world’s best paddling films. Presenting by Birmngham Canoe Club. Call 907-3374. Nov. 7-17: Jesus Christ Superstar. Virginia Samford Theatre, 1116 26th Street South. $30-35. Visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org. Nov. 8: ASO Red Diamond SuperPOPS! Series: The Music of Ella Fitzgerald with Patti Austin. 7:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. Visit samford.edu/ wrightcenter.

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Nov. 8: David Sedaris. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Center Jemison Concert Hall, 1200 Tenth Ave. South. The humorist will celebrate the release of his ninth book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls. $41.5061.50. Visit alysstephens.org or call 9752787. Nov. 9: Phi Mu Children’s Miracle Run. 8 a.m. Homewood Park. Proceeds go to Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Visit helpmakemiracles.org/event/ phimu5k2013. Nov. 9-10: Alabama Designer Craftsmen’s Annual Fine Crafts Show. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Visit alabamadesignercraftsmen.com. Nov. 9: Harvest Festival. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Crestwood Festival, 7001 Crestwood Blvd. Nov. 10: Choral Evensong. 3 p.m. Cathedral Church of the Advent, 2017 Sixth Avenue North. A service of prayers, lessons and anthems. Nov. 12: Tap Dancer Savion Glover STePz. 7:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. Visit samford.edu/wrightcenter. Nov. 15-16: A Southern Christmas Bazaar. Friday 2-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Pelham Civic Center. More than 50 merchants will be present. Event benefits projects of the Alabaster-Pelham Rotary Club. Visit rotarysouthernchristmas.com or call 414-3672. Nov. 18: Bela Fleck with Brooklyn Rider. 7:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford

University. Visit samford.edu/wrightcenter. Nov. 19-20: Briarwood Christmas at the Caroline House. 9:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m. Briarwood Presbyterian Church. A holiday decorator’s show house. Briarwood Ballet will perform, and Anita Barker Barnes will speak. $10. Call 776-5311. Nov. 22: Fall FestivAle. 7 p.m. Old Car Heaven, 115 South 35th Street. Featuring seasonal and unique beers from Alabama breweries. $27 in advance, $37 at the door. Call 531-5085. Nov. 20-23: Market Noel. Cahaba Grand Conference Center. Sponsored by the Junior League of Birmingham. Visit jlbonline.com. Nov. 21-23: Bridge Tournament. Morning, afternoon, and evening at Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club, 144 Business Center Drive, 35244. Visit bridgewebs. com/Birmingham. Nov. 22: Civil War Voices. 7:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. Visit samford.edu/wrightcenter. Nov. 24: Service of Choral Evensong. 4 p.m. Independent Presbyterian Church, 3100 Highland Avenue. Nov. 24: Handel’s Messiah. 3 p.m. Riverchase United Methodist Church. Alabama Civic Chorale will present their 66th annual performance with professional soloists and members of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Free. Visit alabamacivicchorale.com.

A48 â&#x20AC;˘ November 2013

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